Naval News – Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, French Republic’s Minister of Defense, visited Salamis Shipyards in Greece, where pre‑outfitted blocks for the FDI frigates—among the most advanced warships in the world—are under construction for both the Hellenic and French navies. Through the FDI frigate program, and other programs, such as the reactivation and upgrade of Island-class patrol vessels, Salamis Shipyards are emerging as a key player in the Franco-Hellenic strategic partnership and a driving force in the revitalization of Greece’s shipbuilding industry.

Naval News – Greece has announced a 12-year Long-Term Defence Armaments Plan for the Armed Forces, which includes, among other initiatives, the acquisition of new frigates, submarines, and patrol vessels, as well as multiple upgrade programs for the existing fleet.

Ekathimerini – Greece is preparing to bolster its naval capabilities as part of a broader defense modernization plan, responding to regional security challenges, including Turkey’s recent missile tests.

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – The Hydra class frigate used its deck gun and possibly non-kinetic measures to bring down two Houthi drones as hostilities off Yemen’s coast continue.

Naval News – Six projects for the Hellenic Navy.

Naval News – The Greek Minister of Defence Nikolaos Dendias has officially announced Greece’s ambitious plan to construct seven Constellation-class frigates, showcasing the nation’s commitment to bolstering its naval capabilities.

Naval News – The Hellenic Navy is closer than ever to procure Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships following a letter from US Secretary of State allocating four vessels to Greece.

Naval News – A total of 25 MEKO 200 frigates were built of six different configurations for five different countries, by the time construction ended in July 2006. The majority of these frigates have already been upgraded or are undergoing Mid-Life Upgrade programs. This aims to prolong their operational life until the late 2030s, ensuring they remain as the backbone of their respective fleets. However, this is not the situation for the Greek ships.

Naval News – The first two of four former US Coast Guard Island-class cutters which are being transferred to the Hellenic Navy, have arrived in Perama, Greece.

Naval News – Greece will proceed with the procurement of SPIKE fire-and-forget missiles from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to equip eight naval vessels of two different types.

(Thanks to Alain)

El Snorkel – An immersion into the depths of submarines and talks with Greek officers and non-commissioned officers. (In Spanish)

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – The Greek ministry of defense has committed to buying three frigates from France’s Naval Group with weaponry supplied by MBDA in a potential $3.5 billion deal

USNI News – Despite its struggling economy and escalating tensions with neighboring Turkey, Greece is pushing ahead on overhauling its military, according to its defense minister.

Associated Press – Greece’s coast guard says a Greek navy minesweeper and a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship have collided outside the country’s main port of Piraeus, leaving two navy crew slightly injured and prompting the evacuation of the severely damaged military vessel.

(Thanks to Alain)

Greek City Times – In previous days, the episode between the Greek Limnos frigate and the Turkish Kemal Reis frigate were broadcast to the world, as were the air confrontations between Greek and Turkish jets, but lesser known is what has been happening underwater with Turkish submarines in Greek maritime space.

(Thanks to Alain)

Greek City Times – There is undeniable superiority of Greek submarines over the Turkish ones, something that the Turkish lieutenant commander of the “Type 209” submarine, of older technology and German construction, discovered.

(Thanks to Alain)

Ekathimarini – Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos on Tuesday congratulated the captain of the Greek frigate Limnos that accidentally collided with a Turkish ship during a standoff in the Eastern Mediterranean last week and indicated that Greece is prepared to hold talks with Turkey on the condition that it withdraws its warships and seismic research vessels from the area of the Greek continental shelf. 

(Thanks to Alain)

International Security and Conflict Research – A Turkish submarine, Type-209 was located and pursued by Greek anti-submarine helicopters last night in the area of Cape Kafireas in Evia, a few miles off the coast of Attica.

(Thanks to Alain)

Greek City Times – A map of the Greek-French joint military exercises held today in the sea area the Eastern Mediterranean, including the area where Turkey has committed illegal naval maneuvers, has been published by Proto Thema.

(Thanks to Alain)

– Guardian – Greece has placed its military forces on high alert, recalling its naval and air force offers from holiday, as tensions with Turkey over exploration of potentially lucrative offshore energy reserves escalate in the eastern Mediterranean.

– Naval News – During a Greek parliamentary session on May 2, 2020, the special standing committee on armament programs and contracts validated several programs for the Hellenic Navy.

– Der Spiegel – Berlin is unhappy about a weapons deal in which France plans to supply warships to highly indebted Greece free of charge for the first five years, and at a big discount when payment comes due. Firms and politicians in Germany say taxpayers may end up paying for part of the deal, and they want Chancellor Angela Merkel to intervene.

Wall Street Journal – The Submarine Deals That Helped Sink Greece

Greece’s military deals illustrate how Germany and other creditors have in some ways benefited from Greece’s profligacy, and how that is coming back to haunt them.

Defense Technology International – German and Greek Tiff Over Submarines

Germany and Greece are having words over the decision early this week by Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) GmbH, the ThyssenKrupp (TKMS) unit that makes Germany’s non-nuclear submarines, to cancel two submarine contracts with the Greek Defense Ministry because it has not been paid €524 million euros ($765 million dollars) … even though the submarines are ready for delivery.

Xinhua – The Greek government announced on Wednesday that a fully-staffed Hellenic Navy frigate will depart over the next few days in order to participate in an international peacekeeping force for south Lebanon.
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