Greece has set December 17 as the date for raising the Hellenic flag on Formion, its third Belharra-class frigate, at Na...

Greece has set December 17 as the date for raising the Hellenic flag on Formion, its third Belharra-class frigate, at Naval Group's shipyard in Lorient, France. The ceremony marks another step in one of the most significant naval modernisation programs Greece has undertaken in decades. After the flag-raising, Formion will remain in Lorient for several months of systems integration before arriving in Greece in spring 2027. The frigate will come equipped with the Standard 2+ configuration, featuring upgraded electronics, improved software, and tighter integration between its sensors and weapons systems compared to the earlier vessels. The first Belharra, Kimon, is already in active Hellenic Navy service. The second, Nearchos (F-602), is scheduled to be commissioned on October 30. Together, the three frigates form the core of Greece's push to extend its reach across the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. Greek industry has a direct stake in the program. Salamis Shipyards has been producing pre-outfitted hull sections for the FDI frigates since 2022, supplying both the Hellenic and French navies. Hull sections for Formion and a fourth Greek frigate, Themistoklis, were delivered in February 2024, signaling that the program extends well beyond the original three-ship order. The Belharra frigates are built for multi-threat environments, combining long-range air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and surface strike capabilities. Greece is receiving them as strategic pressure in the Eastern Mediterranean continues to grow, with the Aegean remaining an active flashpoint. The frigates also carry broader industrial significance. Greece is not simply buying hardware, it is embedding its own shipbuilding capacity into the production of some of Europe's most advanced naval vessels. #HellenicNavy #Greece #EasternMediterranean