In the last few days there have been reports focusing on yet another nomination under the corvette acquisition program. Specifically, it was reported that there is a proposal for the Navy (PN) which is based on a national corvette displacement ship design with Lockheed Martin.
Nationally the only existing ship design is from the ALS team for a whole family of ships from small displacement vessels such as offshore patrol vessels to area air defense frigates. During the previous period of time, the writer and DefenceReview.gr had presented the relevant options and the range of potential options that exist for the PN. It is a commendable effort, but it is in its infancy in terms of design (detail design, shipbuilding plans, etc.). Of course, this does not negate the fact that the effort must be supported and pay off in the long term.
According to information at the PN level there is no comprehensive proposal for a national corvette displacement ship to be supported by Lockheed Martin at the level of electronics, sensors, tactical system and weapon systems. The PN has taken note of an initial general information which, however, does not constitute an official submission of a design offer with specific technical characteristics and capabilities as well as the most important parameter of the cost. In addition, it was clarified to us that the ALS design team declares complete ignorance on the matter.
It is recalled that last August Lockheed Martin signed a cooperation agreement with several Greek companies including the ALS design team as part of the MMSC promotion program for the PN. Since then there has been no substantial development regarding the ALS outlook for PN.
It is worth emphasizing that the PN remains extremely wary of such general and vague thoughts (not even proposals) such as the one circulating about the Greek design of a ship with American weapons systems, as they aim to create impressions rather than constitute yet another complete bid submission with a specific cost and technical specifications.
Confused information from the writer states that there is a purely theoretical thinking at the government level, but it is not specific and clear but completely general and vague. The information is at the level of Megaros Maximos and the prime minister and is characterized as very early. It is part of a purely theoretical perspective and not something concrete and clear.
It is therefore a very initial first approach that lacks seriousness and is part of the climate of creating impressions through the press. Because otherwise it would have been submitted to the PN officially and with specific data (cost, technical configuration).
It is pointed out that the PN remains committed to zero-risk designs which are tested and reliable solutions, suitable for the PN and the business environment in which it is called upon to act. Such relationships are the Doha, Gowind and Sigma class corvettes. Also, the financial dimension of a venture remains the main issue, since the PN has limited resources capable of absorbing from mature plans appropriate to business needs.
Firstly. All this is happening due to lack of serious institutional process at the level of defense procurement and equipment programs which are not consistent with the principles of defense planning.
Secondly. The Navy in the short term plans the Frigate Command fleet with a mix of FDI frigates, modernized MEKO 200H frigates and corvettes of designs such as those mentioned above (Doha, Gowind and Sigma). In the medium term, the PN turns to the selection of EPCs that our country participates in as a partner of the Eurocorvette program.
