The first FDI frigate for the Hellenic Navy, HS Kimon, started her first sea trials on May 21st in Lorient. The ship capitalized on the experience gained during the sea trials of Amiral Ronarc’hthe first of class for the French Navy. Developed to be operated by the Hellenic Navy, the FDI HS Kimon has begun her sea trials from the Naval Group site of Lorient, Brittany. The trials will be carefully attended by the Hellenic Navy representatives. Thanks to the experience gained during the Amiral Ronarc’h sea trials, the trials of HS Kimon will be performed much faster. The first period at sea will be mainly dedicated to test the platform systems including propulsion and navigation systems. The second period at sea, in a few weeks, will be dedicated to Combat systems and endurance at sea. 2025 marks a key milestone for the FDI programme, with sea trials and the upcoming delivery of the first frigate for the Hellenic Navy, along with the imminent launching of the third vessel, HS Formion. By 2026, the Hellenic Navy will operate three first-rank, multi-mission FDI frigates.
Designed for first-rank navies aiming at ensuring their sovereignty, the FDI is a combat-ready ship capable of handling current and emerging threats. A multipurpose and resilient high-sea vessel, she will enable the Hellenic Navy to ensure its maritime superiority in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea thanks to her high-level capabilities in all areas of naval combat: anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-ship, and special forces projection, with unique capabilities against asymmetric threats. She also benefits from the latest Thales innovations in radar, sonar and electronic warfare. Designed and produced using latest-generation digital tools, they are also the first frigates to benefit from an onboard digital architecture that will enable them to adapt continuously to technological and operational developments, enabling them to cope with constantly evolving threats. Her architecture and digital infrastructures guarantee a growth potential ensuring adaptation to future threats throughout her life, with incremental upgrades rather than costly Mid Life Upgrade.
The FDI is also natively protected against the cyber threat, with a redundant IT architecture based around two data centres that host, in a virtualised manner, a large proportion of the ship’s software. In terms of operational innovation, the FDI is inaugurating the concept of a gateway dedicated to combat asymmetric threats. This system will make it possible to coordinate and lead the fight against small, close air and surface threats. Strongly armed (MBDA Exocet MM40 B3c anti-surface and Aster anti-air missiles, RAM system, MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes, artillery), the FDI for the Hellenic Navy embarks simultaneously a helicopter and a capacity of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). She also benefits from the expertise of Thales, MBDA, and all our other partners and subcontractors.
The Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (English: Defence and Intervention Frigate) or FDI, formerly denominated Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire (English: Medium-Size Frigate) or FTI, is a programme launched in 2015 to produce a new class of first-rank French frigates to complement the Aquitaine-class. As of February 2022, five ships have been ordered for the French Navy and will form the Amiral Ronarc’h class, with the lead ship expected to be commissioned in 2025. In 2021, three units were ordered by Greece for the Hellenic Navy and will form the Kimon-class. Amiral Ronarc’h, the lead ship of the class, was laid down on 17 December 2021. Commissioning of the warship had been planned from 2024 onwards but it was reported that delays in the fitting out and sea trials would push it as well as its entry into service to 2025.
