Greece celebrates the commissioning of its first FDI HN Belharra frigate, “Kimon,” with a ceremony highlighting naval strength, Franco-Greek defense cooperation, and the strategic role of modernized Hellenic Navy capabilities.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias will attend the naming and flag-raising ceremony of Greece’s first Belharra-class frigate in Lorient, marking a key step in Greek-French defense cooperation

Besides deputies from the ruling New Democracy (ND) party, MPs from the socialist-social democrat PASOK party, the main opposition, as well as lesser opposition parties SYRIZA, Elliniki Lysi and Niki voted in favor

Athens is expanding its naval fleet with a deal for 2+2 Italian FREMM Bergamini-class frigates, complementing French-built Belharra vessels and upgraded MEKOs, in a major modernization plan to strengthen its presence in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean

In a weekly post on FB Kyriakos Mitsotakis also referred to a decision by his government to purchase a fourth state-of-the-art frigate from Naval Group

The fourth frigate will reportedly be named “Themistoklis” and will be capable of deploying ballistic missiles, DM Nikos Dendias has said

The third FDI HN frigate, named 'Phormion,' is being built by Naval Group for the Hellenic Navy.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias is expected to arrive at the Naval Group shipyards on the Brittany coast on Wednesday

Weekend edition of Athens daily 'Ta Nea' points to upgraded weapons system package for Kimon-class French-made Belharra frigate