Mitsotakis Hails Delivery of Greece’s Second French-Built Frigate

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece is carrying out the largest defense spending program in its history, as the Hellenic Navy formally took delivery of its second French-built frigate on October 30.

“We are currently engaged in the largest defense spending program in our history. Some of this involves traditional platforms. I'm very proud because today we just took delivery of the second of four ultramodern frigates which we built in France,” Mitsotakis said.

Second of Four Belharra Frigates

The ship, HS Nearchos, is the second Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI) built by Naval Group for the Hellenic Navy. Naval Group handed it over at its Lorient shipyard in the presence of Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin.

The first ship, HS Kimon, was delivered in December 2025. The third, HS Formion, is planned for the end of 2026, and the fourth, HS Themistocles, is expected in 2028.

What Comes Next for Nearchos

The Greek flag was raised aboard the frigate, and Captain Vassilios Karagiannakis took command of a crew of 123, according to Kathimerini. The ship is due to sail to Brest in the coming days to receive its weapons, including Exocet anti-ship missiles and Aster 30 air defense missiles, the newspaper reported. ProtoThema reported that it is expected at the Salamis naval base in early December.

Mitsotakis wrote on social media that the new frigate widens the deterrent power of Greece’s armed forces and strengthens stability in the southeastern Mediterranean.

A Wider Armament Program

Mitsotakis said on October 29 that Greece is committing more than €28 billion to modernize its armed forces over the next 12 years, according to Greek outlet Reader.gr. He said upgraded Rafale and F-16 aircraft are already in service and that F-35s will join soon.

The program also includes the Achilles Shield air defense system, which Clash Report has covered in detail. In July, Mitsotakis said Greece is one of five NATO countries that have already met and exceeded the 3.5%-of-GDP target for core defense spending in 2026, citing NATO data.

A Program Tied to French Industry

Naval Group says more than 75 Greek companies take part in its frigate and submarine programs for Greece. The Hellenic Navy has also given the company the initial in-service support contract for its FDI frigates.

Dendias said parts of the ships are already built in Greece, ProtoThema reported. “A part of the frigate you see behind us has Greek hands and a Greek soul behind it,” he said.