The Hellenic General Directorate of Defense Investments and Armaments (GDDIA) and France’s Naval Group have signed a contract for the construction of a fourth defence and intervention frigate (FDI) for the Hellenic Navy (HN).
The contract was formalised by GDDIA general director major general Ioannis Bouras and Pierre Éric Pommellet, Chairman and CEO of Naval Group, on 14 November 2025.
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The signing follows a confirmation by Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias in September 2025 to purchase the fourth frigate.
This new contract covers the acquisition of an additional FDI frigate as well as its maintenance, while also extending new capabilities across the existing FDI HN fleet.
With aims to increase the involvement of Greek companies in international industrial operations, the company plans to achieve “25% of the value of FDI HN4 in local content”.
The contract marks the continuation of the FDI HN programme that began in 2022, which originally included three frigates with one optional vessel and incorporated an industrial cooperation plan involving Greek industry.
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By GlobalDataCurrently, the first three FDI frigates are under construction for the Hellenic Navy.
The first vessel, HS Kimon, commenced sea trials in May 2025, with plans for delivery to the Navy at the end of 2025.
In June 2025, Naval Group launched the third ship in the series, HS Formion, at its shipyard in Lorient, France.
Naval Group chairman and CEO Pierre Eric Pommellet said: “We are very honoured by Greece’s order for this fourth FDI frigate. With the first three already at an advanced stage of production, this order is a mark of confidence and confirmation of the Hellenic Navy’s satisfaction with these first-rank vessels. We will continue to deploy our expertise in the service of the Hellenic Navy’s sovereignty and naval superiority.”
The FDI HN frigates are designed to conduct operations in all areas of naval warfare.
Each vessel measures approximately 122 meters (m) in length with a width of 18m and a displacement of 4,500 tonnes (t).
The ships feature aviation facilities to accommodate a 10t class helicopter and a vertical take-off and landing uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV).
These vessels incorporate two onboard data centres supporting most shipboard applications, reflecting an emphasis on cybersecurity.
According to Naval Group, the ships are built to operate either independently or within a fleet for managing threats such as submarines, supersonic missiles, cyberattacks, and asymmetric threats.
Operational efficiency is supported through automation and design features allowing smaller crew sizes.
Maintenance requirements have been reduced to improve operational availability. The ships are built to Nato standards, supporting interoperability with allied naval forces.
