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Roussen Class BAE 62 meter Fast Attack Craft

The 62 metre Fast Attack Craft is designed as a high speed, multi-role platform able to operate in both anti-air and surface combat situations. Used as a high speed interception and offshore patrol craft, its extensive weapon fit on a compact hull delivers an economic solution to surveillance, intelligence gathering, patrol, interdiction and engagement of enemy forces. The Fast Attack Craft's design incorporates advanced stealth technology to minimise infra-red, radar, magnetic and noise signatures to reduce the chances of detection and enhance operational effectiveness of the ship.

Efficient propulsion systems ensure economy of operation at cruising speeds, in addition to an innovative platform design with uncluttered weather deck areas to facilitate sea boat operations.

BAE Systems operated a long-term technology transfer agreement with Elefsis Shipyards and Industries in Greece to deliver a series of Super Vita type Roussen-class Fast Attack Craft to the Hellenic Navy – four of which are in service today. Three new missile boats were built with UK assistance; to be completed 9/2003-9/2004, with an option for four more boats. As the design authority and major subcontractor to Elefsis, BAE Systems was responsible for ship design, combat systems integration and equipment procurement. BAE also provided on-site design and engineering services, construction oversight and technical assistance, helping to transfer key skills and introduce modern production techniques.

Due to the serious financial problems of the shipyards and the Greek state, as well as conflicts with BAE Systems, there was a 10 year delay in the construction of the last units of this class. When the Elefsis shipyard went bankrupt, the Hellenic navy took over the production line and the salaries of the shipyard workers to finish the construction of the last two ships. The Navy was the manager and it was using the infrastructure and the personnel of the shipyards.

By November 2013 the new Roussen Class Super Vita fast attack missile craft P71 Ritsos was to start sea trials in December, everything is on schedule and June 2014 will be delivered to the navy. P72 Karathanasis and P73 Vlahakos were to follow on April 2015 and February 2016. The TPK 6 "KARATHANASIS" was named after one of the three fallen - heroes of Imia, Lieutenant Christodoulos Karathanasis, with his son, John, baptizing the ship. It was the most moving moment of the breaking of the champagne in the bow of the P78 by Giannis Karathanasis, who grew up without his father, who on January 31, 1996 passed away in the Augusta Bell helicopter of the Navy, at the height of the Imia crisis , together with Lieutenant Panagiotis Vlachakos and Chief Executive Hector Gialopsos.

The Greek-made state-of-the-art rocket "Karathanasis" officially joined the Navy 29 July 2020, with a moving flag-raising and naming ceremony at the Navy's Rapid Vessel Command in Amfiali. The Type B-Bosper rocket carries Exoset missiles with a range of 180 kilometers, Ram missiles and Otto Melara cannons, has a length of 62 meters, a maximum speed of 35 knots and state-of-the-art electronic warfare. In his speech, the Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos said that the efforts to upgrade the equipment of the Armed Forces are frantic, that they do not limit their area of ??action and that the area of ??national interest is unified and indivisible. "The powerful Armed Forces send a message to both enemies and allies."

The first three vessels are armed with the MBDA (formerly EADS Aerospatiale-Matra) Exocet ITL 70A MM40 block II surface-to-surface missile. The following four vessels have the Exocet block III version. The vessel’s air defence missile system is the RAM (rolling airframe missile), to be supplied by RAMSYS, a consortium of MBDA (formerly EADS Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace), Diehl and BGT.