Μake us preferred on Google A Greek shipyard is expanding its role in European naval defense production after signing a new agreement to supply components for four frigates being built for Sweden.
Salamis Shipyards signed the contract with French defense contractor Naval Group in Paris on November 5, 2026, for the construction of pre-equipped sections, known as blocks, for Sweden’s future Luleå-class FDI frigates.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the international naval defense exhibition EURONAVAL 2026 by Salamis Shipyards Chief Executive Officer George Koros and Naval Group Head of Procurement Amandine Viala. Naval Group Chairman and CEO Pierre Éric Pommellet attended the signing.
“I am particularly pleased to be here today, at the Greek Pavilion, exactly four years after the signing of the first contracts between Naval Group and our Greek industrial partners,” Pommellet said.
“I can personally confirm the strong commitment of Greek companies, their dedication to delivering equipment that meets the highest quality standards and their determination to meet contractual deadlines. These partnerships are fundamental to the success of the FDI program.”
The deal comes six days after Greece’s second FDI frigate, the Nearchos, was formally inducted into the Hellenic Navy during a ceremony in Lorient, France, on October 30. The event was attended by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin.
From Greek frigates to international contracts
Salamis Shipyards’ partnership with Naval Group began through Greece’s FDI frigate procurement program and has gradually expanded into a broader industrial collaboration.
Since 2023, the shipyard’s facilities on the island of Salamina, near Athens, have been manufacturing and pre-equipping hull sections that are then transported to France for integration into frigates being built at Naval Group’s shipyard in Lorient.
The work initially focused on vessels for the Hellenic Navy. For the Greek frigate Formion, for example, Salamis Shipyards manufactured five pre-equipped sections. The collaboration subsequently expanded to cover FDI frigates for the French Navy, and the new Swedish contract extends the company’s involvement to three European naval programs.
The development means that Greece’s procurement of FDI frigates is also creating opportunities for domestic companies to participate in international defense production, beyond the construction of vessels for the Greek fleet.
A similar objective underpins the agreement for Greece’s fourth FDI frigate, the Themistocles, through which Athens sought to raise Greek industrial participation in the program to 25%. The broader aim is to secure sustained manufacturing work and transfer of expertise beyond the country’s own procurement needs.
Sweden’s €4.3 billion frigate order
Sweden signed a €4.3 billion agreement with Naval Group on August 31 for four FDI frigates, scheduled for delivery between 2030 and 2034.
The vessels are intended to strengthen the Swedish Navy’s air defense capabilities and help it meet growing security requirements in the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe.
For Salamis Shipyards, the contract represents an expansion of work that began with Greece’s acquisition of the FDI frigates, also known as Belharra-class vessels, into a program serving another European navy.
“We began our participation in the FDI program by building sections for the Greek frigates, expanded our cooperation to the FDI frigates for the French Navy, and today we are taking the next step by participating in the Swedish frigate program,” Koros said.
During the recent ceremony for the Nearchos, French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin also specifically acknowledged Salamis Shipyards’ contribution to the program, highlighting the importance of industrial cooperation and the transfer of expertise between Greece and France.
