Navy: Full speed ahead for corvettes and upgrade of MEKOs

Turkish provocations at sea do not allow inaction – Green light” from the political leadership on the GEN plan

The crisis in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean in 2020, where Turkey attempted to establish and challenge the sovereignty of our country, had highlighted the immediate need to strengthen our Navy.

From then until today, political and military leadership have been carrying out a continuous struggle to modernize the Greek Fleet, sometimes with “full speed ahead” and sometimes with “holding engines”, depending of course on the circumstances.

The KYSEA meeting last Wednesday (12/10), which took place against the backdrop of the ever-escalating Turkish provocation and aggression, highlighted the need to speed up the strengthening of the famous “wooden walls”, since all the scenarios considered by the military leadership refer to the marine environment of the Aegean or the Eastern Mediterranean.

After all, Turkey does not hide its intentions. Its aggressive actions have become increasingly threatening, with the signing of the new illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum sending a message that Tayyip Erdogan is ready to “set fire” to the region. Apart from the diplomatic mobility demonstrated by our country, it is a given that the equipment programs concerning our Navy must “run” immediately.

What are these; At Newsbomb.gr we have analyzed several times the priorities of the Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis. So after the acquisition of the three leading frigates in the world, the powerful FDI Belh@rra, the negotiation for the corvettes followed, with the Navy having moved quickly, having examined in detail all the candidate ships, analyzing their technical characteristics , their capabilities in each naval warfare scenario, their armament, delivery times, aftermarket support and of course cost.

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We remind you that there were three “suitors” who submitted proposals that completely satisfied 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. All the proposals largely covered the requirements of the Navy, with the GEN of course finally selecting one and recommending its acquisition to the prime minister.

Mr. Mitsotakis, who we remind you has enormous respect and appreciation for the Chief of General Staff, Vice-Admiral Stylianos Petrakis, is said to have once again trusted his judgment on the issue of corvettes. What does this mean; According to information, the Prime Minister is willing to “unstick” the issue and get 4 brand new Corvettes. French, Italian, Dutch? It doesn’t matter, since all proposals meet the prerequisites set by the Navy.

However, the issue of shipyards remains a puzzle and an obvious inhibiting factor. The Italians of Fincantieri, who were at the top of the list, had expressed the intention that the construction of all the ships would take place in the shipyards of Elefsina. The government’s desire to advance the consolidation program and at the same time to “warm up” relations with Rome for good (including why not with a defense agreement like with the French), had turned the tables on the neighbors. However, political instability in Italy slowed developments. In Skaramangas, however, things are more passable, with the French of the Naval Group having contacted Mr. Prokopiou and being ready to provide the shipbuilding work for the corvettes, if they are finally selected.

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The prime minister has also been informed of the developments in the issue of the modernization of the HYDRA-class MEKO frigates, with the information even stating that Mr. Mitsotakis has given the “green light” to proceed as soon as possible, regardless of course of course subject of corvettes. The cost will exceed 500 million euros, however the upgrade program guarantees a life extension of the Greek frigates for another 15 years. The most likely “suitor” to take over the ego is the German TKMS, which claims the program together with the Dutch Thales.

By the end of the year, however, it is certain that we will have a lot of important and above all pleasant news about our Navy, which will move into the new era with brand new and reliable ships, top submarines and powerful armament.

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