Naval Group delivers the HS Nearchos, marking a major milestone in the FDI frigate program for the Hellenic Navy

On October 30, 2026, in Lorient, Naval Group officially delivered the second Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI), HS Nearchos, to the Hellenic Navy. The delivery ceremony took place in the presence of Nikos Dendias, Minister of National Defense for the Hellenic Republic, and Catherine Vautrin, French Minister of the Armed Forces. This milestone highlights a remarkably fast industrial timeline: following the handover of the lead ship Kimon in December 2025 and the upcoming delivery of the third unit, HS Formion, slated for late 2026, three advanced frigates will have been transferred to Greece within a single year.

This achievement underscores Naval Group’s ability to execute complex naval programs on tight schedules while meeting the highest technological standards. Launched in 2022 under the bilateral defense framework between France and Greece, the FDI program relies extensively on a deeply integrated industrial partnership. More than 75 Greek companies contribute to the frigate and submarine programs, providing critical components ranging from locally produced electronic navigation maps to complex pre-armed hull blocks.

Furthermore, the Hellenic Navy has entrusted Naval Group with the initial in-service support (ISS) contract for its FDI fleet. Maintenance, technical updates, and lifecycle management will be handled in close cooperation between Naval Group, its local subsidiary Naval Group Hellas, and domestic Greek industrial partners, ensuring optimal operational readiness and fleet availability.

Featuring a cutting-edge digital architecture centered around the Panoramic Sensor and Intelligence Module (PSIM) and advanced combat systems, the FDI frigates provide the Hellenic Navy with superior situational awareness and multi-role dominance across anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare domains. Naval Group is showcasing its complete portfolio of naval defense solutions at Euronaval 2026.