On June 22, a significant milestone was reached in the strengthening of the Hellenic Navy, as the frigate Formion began its first sea trials. This marks the third FDI-class unit being built by Naval Group, incorporating substantial Greek industrial participation and advanced combat systems.
First phase of sea trials for the frigate Formion
The initial trial period spans two weeks and focuses on evaluating the vessel’s critical operational characteristics. The trials include extensive safety system checks, as well as assessment of propulsion performance — including speed and maneuverability under various conditions. A notable feature of this phase is the ability to test the primary Combat Systems sensors as early as the first trial period. This is made possible by Naval Group’s innovative production process, in which the hull and the PSIM (Panoramic Sensor and Intelligence Module) are built in parallel, accelerating the overall completion schedule.
Naval Group’s Hellenic Industrial Participation (HIP) program has proven to be a genuine success, with the frigate Formion incorporating an extensive range of Greek-manufactured equipment. Materials are being delivered “on time,” according to the official announcement, which notes that AKMON is supplying consoles, METLEN the torpedo doors, KAFKAS the electrical switchboards, Marita HELLAS the life rafts, MEVACO the marine systems equipment, the Salamis Shipyards the pre-outfitted hull sections, and VIKING NORDSAFE HELLAS the RHIBs.
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Full steam ahead on the construction of the next 3 FDI frigates
Following the 2025 delivery of frigate KIMON — the first FDI in a series of four frigates being produced for the Hellenic Navy — Naval Group, together with its French and Greek partners, is pressing full speed ahead on the construction of the three remaining FDIs: frigate Nearhos, frigate Formion, and frigate Themistoklis.
For the Hellenic Navy, 2026 marks a series of major milestones: first, the arrival of frigate KIMON in Greece in mid-January, followed by the planned acceptance of two additional vessels — NEARHOS and FORMION.
It is worth recalling that sea trials for frigate NEARHOS, the second FDI for the Hellenic Navy, began in February 2026. Final acceptance trials and sea-readiness activities are set to be completed in the second half of the year, with delivery scheduled for October 2026.
As for THEMISTOKLIS, the fourth FDI for the Hellenic Navy, ordered in November 2025, construction is advancing steadily. The pre-outfitted blocks, manufactured entirely by the Salamis Shipyards, have been assembled into FDI frigate THEMISTOKLIS. The hull assembly is progressing at the quayside and has recently been floated to change berth. Assembly and outfitting activities are continuing — covering equipment installation, fluid systems, insulation, piping, electrical systems, propulsion, and painting — ahead of its planned launch in the spring of 2027. Construction of the Panoramic Sensor and Intelligence Module (PSIM) unit is also progressing in parallel.
The FDI: a high-intensity operations warship, combat-ready across the world’s oceans
As a front-line frigate, the FDI has proven its capabilities across all warfare domains — anti-air, anti-submarine, surface warfare, and asymmetric threats. Scalable and versatile, it combines all the operational domains required to address current and emerging threats — whether operating autonomously or as part of a strike group — including next-generation submarines, hypersonic missiles, cyberattacks, and complex asymmetric threats. Its compact layout and unique design make it ideally suited for diverse environments and challenging sea conditions around the world.
Key specifications
• Displacement: 4,500-tonne class
• Length: 122 meters
• Beam: 18 meters
• Speed: 27 knots
• Endurance: 45 days
• Capacity: crew of 125 + 28 passengers
Focus on HIP
Under the Hellenic Industrial Participation (HIP) plan signed in 2022, more than 120 contracts have been signed with approximately 70 Greek companies for the construction of both Greek and French FDI frigates.
Beyond the FDI program itself, this industrial initiative has already generated numerous lasting economic benefits for Greek industry, enabling Greek companies to enter Naval Group’s supply chain for current and future French and export programs. To date, 75 Greek companies are registered on Naval Group’s supply chain platform. From this broader perspective, Greece’s Defence Industrial and Technological Base (DITB) is set to strengthen its position in the global naval defence market.
Recent highlights:
In March,
– Naval Group and METLEN signed a Memorandum of Cooperation covering submarine and surface vessel projects.
– Naval Group hosted an R&D Partners Day in Athens. The event, inaugurated by GDDIA Director Major General Ioannis Bourras, aimed at identifying new collaboration opportunities between Naval Group and its Greek partners — both within the framework of European Union calls for proposals and on a bilateral basis — with the goal of exploring new technological fields. This year’s event brought together approximately 100 participants, primarily from the Greek defence industrial and technological base, including companies, laboratories, technology research centers, and academic institutions such as universities.
– In May, two significant contracts were signed with Mevaco and AKMON S.A. for the production of four sets of ship equipment, each comprising more than 50 electronic consoles and cabinets for the FDI frigates.
– Since 2022, the Salamis Shipyards have been fully integrated into Naval Group’s supply chain for both the French and Greek FDI programs. Of the 21 sections ordered, 15 have already been delivered. Their consistent delivery record allows Naval Group to ensure the timely, high-quality construction of FDI frigates for its customer navies. Additional sections are expected, and the next shipment has already been scheduled for this summer.
