The Greek Navy’s first FDI frigate (Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention), “Kimon” (hull number F601), began the second phase of its shipyard trials in the Bay of Biscay on July 15.
The trials are scheduled to continue until the end of July, after which the ship will be transferred to the Brest naval base for armament. Once all acceptance tests have been completed, the “Kimon” will be handed over to the Greek Navy at the end of 2025. In future, the frigate will be stationed at the Salamis naval base.
The “Kimon” is the second ship in the FDI class. A total of five units will be built for the French Navy (Marine nationale) and four for the Greek Navy (Polemikó Naftikó) are being built by the French shipyard Naval Group. The first French ship of this class, the “Amiral Ronarc’h”, began its sea trials in October 2024 and is due to enter service later this year.
Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention
The FDI class ships are 122 meters long, 17.7 meters wide and have a displacement of 4,500 tons. They are powered by two diesel engines acting on one propeller. The maximum speed is 27 knots (50 km/h), the range is 5,000 nautical miles (around 9,300 kilometers) at a cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h). The maximum operating time at sea is 45 days.
The permanent crew comprises 110 people, supplemented by up to 15 more for the on-board helicopter and the operation of unmanned systems (UAV).
[#Teasing] ⚓????️ FDI Kimon stealing the show. Sorry @Festival_Cannes pic.twitter.com/NcHgFrURFQ
– Naval Group (@navalgroup) May 23, 2025
The armament of the “Kimon” class includes:
- a remote-controlled 76-millimeter rapid-fire cannon from Oto Melara,
- a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2B short-range defense system,
- eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles,
- three vertical launchers with eight cells each for anti-aircraft missiles of the type MBDA Aster 15/30,
- another vertical launch system of the Sylver type with eight cells for Missile de Croisière Naval (cruise missiles),
- and two twin-tube torpedo launchers for EuroTorp MU90 Impact anti-submarine torpedoes.
The equipment also includes two METIS fast patrol boats, a boarding helicopter of the type Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and two Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAVs for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
