Delays in the reinforcement of the Navy, while Turkey threatens to invade – The pressures, the economic “thorn” and the reappearance of the “experts”.
Against the background of the Turkish provocations that are escalating because of reason and action, reaching the point where the Turkish leadership threatens Greece even with an invasion of Greek islands, there is intense movement in the Greek “Pentagon” to prevent any action before it even manifests itself.
Political and military leadership are moving in two parallel axes, on the one hand shielding the borders on land, air and sea and on the other hand proceeding with methodical moves in the armament enhancement of the three Branches. It may be that the Air Force, the Navy and the Land Army cope with every challenge of Ankara with complete success, however, they all recognize that there are weaknesses and shortcomings, which, based on the conditions that are being formed, should be covered immediately and without the slightest sloppiness.
At the top of the agenda is the Navy, whose needs are enormous and require immediate and targeted interventions. The reformation of the Fleet has already started and is taking shape based on the new force structure formulated by the GEN and approved by the Ministry of Defense and the Prime Minister. Already, with the 3+1 Belh@rra frigates, the data in the correlation of forces with Turkey is being turned upside down, with the top ships promising absolute dominance in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
However, it is a given that the effort must continue at a rapid pace and no factor must put a brake on the planning for equipment reinforcement, despite the new conditions created by the energy crisis and the difficulties in the economy.
Programs such as that of the modernization of the HYDRA-class MEKO frigates should have started “running” since the beginning of the summer, with the Navy stressing that the issue must be closed… yesterday that all four ships should enter the shipyards immediately. After all, they themselves know better than anyone that it will take almost two years for a ship to enter the… pitches and to complete the upgrade work. So there is no scope for unjustified idleness and given that the Belh@rra (and the corvettes probably) will arrive in 2025, any delay may have an impact on the operational activity of our Fleet.
So, where and why does the issue get stuck? As we said, the Navy has fully formed its plan for the modernization of MEKOs, having also received the approval of the political leadership, with the upgrading of the ships giving them “life” for at least 15 more years. The modernization work will be carried out in Greek shipyards and the cost will reach 500 million euros, a satisfactory amount, given that it is about four ships that will receive significant support. So what’s left? The company that will undertake the project. The German proposal of the joint venture KMS-ThalesNederlands, a manufacturer of MEKOs, was reportedly the most advantageous for the Navy, with the French of the Naval Group having an excellent counter-proposal, also tempting for the GEN. Of course, the Americans of Lockheed Martin also entered the game, exerting regular pressure on other factors to get (also) this job. In fact, the US is said to be putting its proposal for the acquisition of intermediate solutions from our country, such as the beastly Ticonderoga cruisers, ships that are powerful, but the Navy has clear needs and based on these, it will proceed with its purchases. .
What do we mean? Before we got the Balh@rra frigates, the Navy had made it very clear that it needed ships with an emphasis on area air defense, excellent anti-submarine warfare capabilities, advanced radar, speed and maneuverability to fully control not only air and sea space of the Archipelago, but also of the Eastern Mediterranean. The proposal of the Chief of General Staff, Vice-Admiral Stylianos Petrakis was clear and absolutely clear from the first moment: French Belh@rra frigates, the best frigates in the world. Those that meet all the needs and requirements of the Greek Fleet. The Minister of Defense, Mr. Nikos Panagiotopoulos, as well as the Prime Minister himself, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, did the obvious. They have shown complete confidence in those who have the best insight, the best knowledge, the best understanding of the needs of our Fleet. And of course, these are the heads of the Navy. So they gave the “green light” for the acquisition of the world’s leading frigates, with the agreement with the French including multiple benefits at a political and military level.
The Navy therefore had a clear position from the beginning on the modernization of the MEKOs, proposing – according to information – the upgrading of two of the four frigates and two others gradually taking on the role of training ships. The favorable prices for modernization of all four ships led to second thoughts, although it is pointed out by sources of the Fleet that the risk is high, both from a financial and an operational point of view.
Time is also a key factor in the operational equation, given the situation in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. For this reason, the Navy, in collaboration with the GHETHA and the GDAEE, completed the contracting of the Belh@rra in record time, with the first two frigates already in the blocks of the Naval Group and being prepared. The GEN leadership wants a similar tactic to be followed in the acquisition of the corvettes, so that by 2025 the Navy will have at least six brand new surface units in its quiver.
Although the corvette issue should also have been over for months and we were now in the contracting process, political leadership pushed back, prolonging the anguish of Navy officials. As we have written, there are three “suitors” who submitted proposals that completely satisfy the Navy. The French with the flagship Gowind corvettes of the Naval Group (manufacturer of the Belh@rra frigates), the Italians, also supported by the US, with the powerful FCX-30 corvettes known as the Doha class, from the Fincantieri company, but also the Dutch with the Corvettes Sigma 10514 by Damen.
The GEN Chief, Vice-Admiral Stylianos Petrakis examined in every detail all the candidate ships, analyzing their technical characteristics, their capabilities in every scenario of naval warfare, their armament, delivery times, subsequent support and of course the cost. As Greek “Pentagon” sources point out, all the proposals largely cover the Navy’s requirements, and whichever corvette is chosen for the Navy, they will be completely satisfied.
Although the background is intense, with many factors trying to get involved in the equation of acquiring corvettes, the General Staff of the Navy clearly communicates that their own recommendation to the political leadership was made with the sole criterion of the operational needs of the Navy, which we emphasize again that they know better than anyone. And this is completely respected by the Minister of Defense, who has informed the leadership of the Navy that the “work” for the corvettes will end very soon and indeed with the best and most advantageous solution for the Greek Fleet.
It is a given that the equipment aid should run and the programs should not be affected by the economic turmoil. The developments in the wider region of the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean do not allow for obstructions and postponements. The situation is and will become even more dangerous, let us be prepared and away from factors that, with their ignorance and attempt to serve interests, cause dangerous delays.
