The new flagship, HS Kimon, is named for a famed Athenian general who fought the Persian Empire during the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC.
Last week, Greece’s navy welcomed its new flagship. The HS Kimon, an FDI multipurpose frigate, arrived at the Salamis Naval Base near Athens, marking the first new major surface combatant to join the Hellenic Navy in almost three decades.
About the HS Kimon
- Year Introduced: 2025
- Class: Defense and Intervention Frigate (FDI); second in class
- Length: 121.6 m (398 ft)
- Beam (Width): 17.7 m (58 ft)
- Displacement: 4,400 tonnes
- Propulsion: Combined diesel and diesel (CODAD); ~43,000 shp
- Top Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h, 31 mph)
- Range: 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 km, 5,754 mi); 45 days’ endurance
- Armaments: Varies based on mission (see below)
- Crew: 153 (125 sailors, 28 passengers)
With a displacement of 4,5000 tonnes, the FDI is considered relatively small by modern frigate standards. However, its smaller size is an intentional feature of the frigate to minimize costs.
The FDI has a similar silhouette as the US Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers, with a single integrated mast and a pronounced inverted bow. However, it does not have stealth capabilities like the American vessel.
The French-made frigate can carry a wide range of weapon systems and sensors depending on the client’s needs. For example, it can carry MBDA Aster 15 or 30 anti-aircraft missiles, Exocet MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles, MU90 lightweight torpedo tubes, a 76mm main gun, and two 20mm Narwhal autocannons. It can also carry a helicopter for antisubmarine warfare.
The FDI sports the Sylver vertical launch systems with the option for 16 or 32 cells, depending on the configuration. However, it appears that the French and Hellenic navies are devoted to the 32-cell option for future vessels, and are retroactively upgrading to 32 cells all other ships.
The Kimon Is the Latest Chapter in Greece’s Rich Naval History
Following a delivery and testing voyage, the HS Kimon arrived at Salamis Naval Base—the location of the famed Battle of Salamis, which, in conjunction with the Greek victory in the Battle of Marathon several years earlier, defeated the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC. Kimon, also known as Cimon, was an Athenian general who led the Greek side at Salamis. (His more famous counterpart at that battle, Themistocles, is also the namesake of a number of Hellenic Navy ships.)
Several Greek warships welcomed the HS Kimon in its arrival to Salamis, including the “Olympias,” a replica of an ancient Greek trireme used more than 2.500 years ago in the same waters.
Built by the French Naval Group, the Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) frigate is a capable, multirole warship. It can conduct air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and anti-surface warfare.
The HS Kimon is the first out of four FDI frigates to join the Hellenic Navy. Initially, Greece purchased three warships, but then exercised the option to purchase a fourth one.
“It is a weapon system that will strengthen the Armed Forces of our Homeland in their primary mission, which is to deter any form of aggression and to ensure the great public good of security for Greek society, for Greek citizens, for our country. Its mission is to safeguard our sovereignty and our sovereign rights,” Greek Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias stated.
The HS Kimon is the second operational FDI frigate in service, after the French Navy received the FS Amiral Ronarc’h in October.
The addition of the HS Kimon and the additional three FDI frigates are going to greatly improve the capabilities of the Hellenic Navy and allow it to operate more confidently in the region, including the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Hellenic Navy is currently undergoing a modernization program with the purchase of the four FDI frigates and the updating of the Meko 200HN frigates.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock
