The Hellenic Republic Ministry of Nationwide Defence has apparently determined to spend €500 million to improve its 4 Hydra-Class MEKO frigates. If the choice stands, it will likely be a departure from the Hellenic Navy’s plans to improve two of the 4 frigates. The improve will enable the 3200-ton frigates, commissioned within the Nineties, to stay operational for 15 extra years. Spending €500 million on an improve signifies that the Navy has about €1.5 billion – the sum may very well be raised to €1.7 million. A choice on the acquisition will probably be taken earlier than the top of summer time. It is a pretty big expenditure merchandise for Greece’s protection funds, though a small quantity for the companies which have submitted the proposals.
If the choice stands, it will likely be a departure from the Greek Navy’s plans to improve two of the 4 frigates. Nevertheless it matches with the plans of the Nationwide Protection Normal Workers to have a deployable fleet of 12 frigates and 6 corvettes within the interval to 2034, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and the US have already expressed curiosity in Greece’s corvette procurement program. Lately, Germany and Israel have joined in, providing the Sa’ar 6-class corvette, ordered by Israel 2015, in-built German shipyards; the 4 models had been delivered in 2020 and 2021 and have been fitted with Israeli weapons techniques.
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The Hydra class are a gaggle of 4 frigates in service with the Hellenic Navy. They had been designed in Germany and are a part of the MEKO group of modular warships, on this case the MEKO 200 design. The programme was authorised in 1988 and partially paid for with FMS assist and previsioned for the fee of six vessels. The primary ship was in-built Germany and commissioned in 1992 however suffered a critical hearth whereas working up close to Portland, England. Repairs had been accomplished in 1993. The Greek constructed warships had been delayed as a result of monetary issues on the a part of the Hellenic Shipyards finishing within the late Nineties which additionally led to limiting the entire variety of vessels to 4.
The implementation of the so-called “Mid-Life Modernization program” will enable the upgrading of the digital fight techniques, sensors and radars, that are crucial to extend the fight energy of ships. In keeping with experiences of Greek protection journal “PTISI” the improve will embody 12 fundamental subsystems of the ship together with a brand new CMS, a brand new 3D radar, a brand new navigation radar, new intra-communication techniques, new ESM, Hyperlink-16 tactical knowledge hyperlink community and the set up of a brand new Laser warning system. The shipyard that can win the contract for the development of 4 frigatesas the interim answer may also modernize the 4 meko class frigates to make sure commonality between the techniques of the brand new frigates and the modernized meko class frigates.
