The French Navy frigate “Auvergne” performed a sequence of workout routines with the Hellenic Navy frigate “Salamis” off Crete. Helicopter cross-decks, a formation navigation sequence, and the institution of tactical information hyperlinks permitting the trade of tactical data have been carried out between the French and Greek frigates. The coaching is a part of the strategic partnership not too long ago signed between France and Greece. The ships then joined forces in anti-air warfare (AAW) workout routines towards two F-4 and two F-16 fighters of the Hellenic Air Power, two different F-16 fighters making certain an air protection mission in revenue of the maritime pressure.

This coaching follows quite a few workout routines carried out collectively in 2021 and 2020, together with the one performed a month earlier by Auvergne with the Greek frigate Themistokles. The French MoD mentioned on December 14 that the French Navy frigate FREMM Auvergne is at the moment deployed within the Mediterranean after Having left Toulon on November 2. The vessel and its NH90 NFH Caïman helicopter are at the moment heading for the jap Mediterranean the place, as a part of Operation Chammal to combat towards Daesh, it’ll make sure the presence of French vessels in a strategic space the place the safety challenges for France, Europe, and the US are quite a few.

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French Navy Frigate Auvergne and Hellenic Navy Frigate Salamis Conduct Joint Drill Off Crete Island

Auvergne (D654) is an Aquitaine-class frigate of the French Navy. The Aquitaine class was developed from the FREMM multipurpose frigate program. Unique plans have been for 17 FREMM to switch the 9 D’Estienne d’Orves-class avisos and 9 anti-submarine frigates of the Tourville and Georges Leagues lessons. In November 2005 France introduced a contract of €3.5 billion for growth and the primary eight hulls, with choices for 9 extra costing €2.95 billion cut up over two tranches (totaling 17). The FREMM (“European multi-purpose frigate”; French: Frégate européenne multi-mission; Italian: Fregata Europea multi-missione) is a household of multi-purpose frigates designed by Fincantieri and Naval Group for the navies of Italy (10 frigates), France (8 frigates), and in addition for export.

The Greek frigate Salamis (F-455) is the fourth ship of the Greek Hydra frigate class. It’s based mostly on the Blohm + Voss MEKO 200 frigate class and was constructed by Hellenic Shipyards Co. at Skaramagas. This system was approved in 1988 and partially paid for with FMS help and previsioned for the fee of six vessels. The primary ship was in-built Germany and commissioned in 1992. It’s the third ship of the Hellenic Navy to be named after Salamis Island and the well-known Battle of Salamis, the primary being the uncompleted dreadnought Salamis. The Greek-built warships have been delayed resulting from monetary issues on the a part of the Hellenic Shipyards accomplished within the late Nineties which additionally led to limiting the entire variety of vessels to 4 primarily after the acquisition of eight Kortenaer-class frigates from the Netherlands within the late Nineties.