Greece is preparing to formally welcome the frigate Kimon, the country’s first Belharra-class warship, as it enters national waters and heads for the Salamis naval base on Thursday, January 14, in a ceremony highlighting a new chapter for the Hellenic Navy.
The arrival of the Kimon is being described by officials as a landmark moment for Greece’s national defense. The frigate is expected to reach the Saronic Gulf shortly before noon, where a carefully planned ceremonial escort will take place.
According to Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, the Kimon will be greeted at sea by historic and modern vessels, including the armored cruiser Georgios Averof, a replica ancient trireme, and six active ships of the Greek fleet. In a public statement, Dendias called the frigate “a symbol of a new era for the Hellenic Navy and national defense.”
The defense minister is scheduled to board the Kimon while it is underway, accompanied by Greece’s president and prime minister, underscoring the political and strategic significance of the ship’s arrival.
Following its entry into the Saronic Gulf, the frigate will initially sail near the island of Aegina, where senior political and military officials are expected to visit the vessel. Escorted by units of the fleet, it will then continue toward the Salamis naval base, completing a voyage designed to emphasize both continuity and modernization in Greek naval power.
The Kimon is the first of the FDI HN frigates ordered by Greece as part of a broader effort to upgrade its naval capabilities. Its arrival follows a naming and flag-raising ceremony held last December, attended by the defense minister and the country’s top military leadership.
