One month after officially entering Greek service, the frigate Kimon, which is the first of the new FDI (Belharra) class warships that Greece has procured, is undergoing a demanding operational evaluation under the Hellenic Navy’s Fleet Command.
The state-of-the-art vessel, described as the most modern warship in Europe, represents a major milestone for Greece’s naval capabilities. Its arrival has generated widespread public and political interest, particularly among residents of the country’s Aegean islands, where the ship and its three sister FDI frigates are expected to patrol regularly, either independently or as part of joint, NATO or national exercises.
The next six months are considered critical for the crew of the Kimon, as it is the first FDI frigate to join the fleet. The operational evaluation focuses on both the performance and reliability of the ship’s individual systems and the interoperability of those systems with other units of the Hellenic Navy and the broader Greek armed forces.
Interoperability is especially significant because it will ensure the frigate is fully integrated into the Navy’s operational forces and capable of seamless cooperation with other naval units. The testing phase will include live-fire exercises, network connectivity trials with other military assets — including fighter aircraft that can provide real-time situational awareness to the FDI frigates — and simulations of real combat conditions.
These simulations are designed to assess the ship’s performance under pressure and in complex threat environments, including scenarios involving drone saturation attacks, anti-ship missiles and submarine threats. Military officials stress that such comprehensive trials require time, coordination and careful planning.
The frigate’s arrival has stirred strong feelings of pride and anticipation across Greece, especially in island communities that view naval presence as directly linked to security in the Aegean Sea.
In that context, the regional governor of the South Aegean has formally requested that the Kimon sail to the island of Rhodes on March 6 and 7, 2026. The proposed visit would coincide with commemorations marking 78 years since the Dodecanese islands were incorporated into Greece.
In a letter to the minister of national defense, the governor described the ship as the flagship of a new era for the Greek Navy. He said its presence in the Dodecanese would symbolize the continuity of Greek history and the connection between past struggles and today’s armed forces, which safeguard the country’s sovereignty and security in the southeastern Aegean.
The Hellenic Navy’s General Staff confirmed receipt of the request, stating only that it is under review. Any decision will ultimately rest with the political leadership of the Defense Ministry, based on recommendations from operational authorities and the ship’s evaluation schedule.
