Frégates Européennes Multi-Missions (FREMM)
In late 2006 Elefsis Shipyards announced the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with Armaris, a French group, to promote the FREMM class frigate ship for the Greek Navy as part of a five-year defense supply programme approved by the government in July 2006. FREMM multiple-purpose frigates for NATO member-states are the biggest European naval programme in the last 60 years and envisages the building of 27 vessels. The program started in November 2005 in France and Italy. Under the memorandum, Elefsis Shipyards and Armaris agreed to work together in building FREMM class frigates for the Greek Navy, promoting the Greek shipyard as a strategic partner for the French Navy's programs. Armaris is a joint venture between DCN and Thales offering integrated solutions to naval equipment supplies.
Greece started bilateral talks with France to buy six FREMM frigates in 2009, in a potential deal is worth 2.5 billion euros ($3.45 billion). French warship manufacturer DCNS conceded in early 2010 that Greece's debt problems had dashed hopes of landing a contract to supply the Hellenic Navy with 6 FREMM frigates. "The debt crisis obviously complicates the picture," a DCNS official told Jane's on 22 February 2010. "Talks are still going on but we now see little chance of a positive outcome in the foreseeable future." Earlier in 2010 a senior DCNS official said that Greece was the strongest prospect for a sale worth an estimated EUR2.2 billion (USD2.9 billion), Deputy Defence Minister Panos Beglitis told Reuters on 10 February 2010 that Greece will go ahead with the purchase of the six FREMM frigates from France, despite its economic woes. "We will carry out the previous government's deal to purchase six Fremm frigates," Panos Beglitis said in a statement to Reuters.
Mr. François Cornut-Gentille, a French National Assembly Member, queried the Minister of Defence in March 2010 on the Greek budget crisis. Facing the unprecedented Greek budget challengesm it was now required to significantly reduce its expenses. The Greek defence budget was not spared by the savings, including equipment requirements. For several years, France was in discussion with successive Greek Governments to conclude several contracts. The prospect of export to the Greece strengthened the financial viability of many French national programs.
The Ministry responded on 25 May 2010 that under its program of consolidation of public finances, the Greek Government planned a reduction of the budget of the defence of 6.6 per cent in 2010. This decrease was, in the words of the Greek Minister of Defence, on operating expenses. None of the additional budgetary restriction measures decided in March 2010, following interventions by the European Union, was expected to affect this year the acquisition of the Greek Ministry of defence budget.
For the following years, should wait for the publication of future plan of equipment of the Hellenic armed forces for the period 2011-2016, expected in a few months, in order to be aware of the consequences of the current crisis on the acquisition of military equipment budget and associated priorities. In any case, restructuring expected within the Greek Defence Ministry, as a result of budgetary operating restrictions, suggested possible future schedule slips in contracts.
To this day, the Greek authorities confirmed their intention to continue discussions with France by the previous Government under contracts from State to State. The acquisition process of frigates type FREMM (multi-mission frigates) and SAR (search and rescue) helicopters were accordingly topical.
Having been fourth largest arms importer in 2003–2007, Greece was 15th largest in 2008–12. Its volume of imports declined by 61 per cent between these two periods. As part of its own cost-saving exercises, Greece placed no new orders for major conventional weapons in 2012 and has delayed or cancelled a range of arms import plans, including the acquisition of 6 FREMM frigates from France and over 400 armored vehicles from Russia.
The government defended its decision February 2013 to lease two navy frigates and four military aircraft from France, saying that it was its own choice and in the country's defence interests. “We need to maintain our defence shield and ensure that the waters of the Aegean remain calm,” government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said. He said that the country's defense interests remained the same, regardless of the economic crisis. The government's decision came in for intense criticism by Syriza, the main opposition party, who said it was contrary to the government's aim to reduce military expenditure.
This deal was expected to be signed later when French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Greece. The loan of four navy support aircraft was also under consideration. Owing to the crisis, Greece had curtailed previously extensive arms purchases from the United States, Germany and France. "I did not come here to sell (arms),» Hollande stressed in his comments. The FREMM-type frigates will be included in the Greek navy and could assist a search for hydrocarbons which Greece hoped to start in coming months, the Greek government source said. French built FREMM Frigates could help protect the - soon to be declared - Exclusive Economic Zone.
Several months earlier, the Turkish government issued exploration licenses to Turkish state-run TRAO, granting them permission to explore waters within Greece’s continental shelf borders, its EEZ, and even its uncontested sea borders. They bought a state-of-the-art survey ship to carry them out and christened it Hayreddin Barbarossa (Ottoman Admiral whose fleet dominated the Aegean during the mid 16th century.)
Greece had long sought a heavily armed French frigate, with the Greek navy previously seeking the Fremm multimission frigate with cruise missiles before 2008. But the financial crisis in that year eventually forced Athens in 2018 to put a hold on a purchase as deep spending cuts were imposed on the frail Greek economy. By 2019 Greece was reportedly interested in buying second hand warships such as an Australian Adelaide-class vessel, and in leasing French FREMM-class frigates.
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