Naval Group Takes Center Stage at Greece’s DEFEA Exhibition
From May 9 to May 11, 2023, Naval Group will prominently participate in the second edition of DEFEA, the Athens Defense Exhibition organized under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defense. Naval will unveil its surface vessel offerings and innovations through its FDI frigates and Gowind® corvettes, alongside its advanced warship capabilities. Greek-French industrial synergy will be highlighted through various events and the signing of subcontracts as part of the FDI HN initiative.
A lasting alliance with Greece
At DEFEA, Naval Group reaffirms its dedication to the Hellenic Industry and the enhancement of the Greek Navy.
Having operated in Greece since 2008, Naval Group has established a formidable reputation for its knowledge and proficiency in ToT (Transfer of Technology) as well as local manufacturing in the region. Leveraging its sustained presence, the company has successfully forged relationships with numerous specialized and forward-thinking enterprises in the Greek defense sector, in addition to collaboration with academic and research institutions.
The progression of Naval Group’s Hellenic Industrial Participation Plan (HIP), within the context of the FDI frigates for the Hellenic Navy program, offers a significant boon for Greece in terms of economic returns, a high level of expertise, and knowledge transfer capabilities in the Greek defense industry. This initiative is advancing with over 50 agreements finalized involving 60 Greek associates since the program’s inception in March 2022. It is yielding numerous and enduring positive economic repercussions for the local industry, facilitating, beyond the FDI program, the integration of Greek firms into Naval Group’s supply chain for forthcoming French and export initiatives. Naval Group’s bid for the corvette program encompasses a robust industrial cooperation plan to guarantee economic advantages to Greece of a minimum of 30% of the program’s overall value and the creation of hundreds of employment opportunities, while also fostering Greek partners’ involvement in international endeavors.
A comprehensive solution for modern fleets
Naval Group stands out as one of the few companies globally that can directly deliver or facilitate technology transfer for a complete series of warships, encompassing the combat systems and essential equipment required to project naval power in operational theaters.
The FDI frigate
This cutting-edge frigate is designed to execute a broad spectrum of missions autonomously or as part of a strike group. Similar to the FREMM, the FDI frigate possesses top-tier capabilities in anti-air, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and asymmetric warfare domains, leveraging the operational expertise of the French Navy garnered in wartime contexts. As the inaugural digital frigate, the FDI frigate incorporates state-of-the-art systems built around a navy digitally distributed cloud framework, which is inherently cyber-secure and compatible with emerging IT advancements, offering users high-level services. FDI HN complies with all Navy specifications. Fully interoperable with NATO and EU Navies, it is adept at effectively safeguarding high-value assets or zones at sea, terrestrial installations, urban areas, and Greek islands. The program is advancing precisely on schedule, with the first two frigates slated for delivery in 2025 and a third in 2026.
As part of the HIP project, Naval Group’s agenda involves the construction of sections of French and Greek frigates in Greece.
The Gowind® corvette
Naval Group presents the Gowind® corvette as an answer to fulfill the Hellenic Navy’s ambitions for rejuvenating its naval capabilities. This military-engineered compact surface combatant utilizes cutting-edge technological advances developed and perfected by Naval Group for larger vessel designs such as frigates. It aligns perfectly with the requirements of the Hellenic Navy and fosters complementarity and interoperability between FDI and Gowind, opening the door for economies of scale for the Hellenic fleet: including training, maintenance, etc.
The Gowind® corvette has already demonstrated its effectiveness with the Egyptian Navy. Naval Group boasts an extensive legacy of transferring technology and expertise to major complex industrial endeavors worldwide. The Group has successfully executed a ToT program for the Gowind type corvette, with the first unit of the class constructed in France within just 38 months, followed by the successful construction of the remaining series in Egypt by a local shipyard.
The array of products and services
Naval Xplore, a captivating, immersive, and customizable 3D center presented in miniature format, showcases the complete portfolio of Naval Group products and services. In a dedicated area of the pavilion, attendees can experience the intricacies of a warship’s operational landscape, featuring a multitude of threats and the capabilities of modern armaments. Driven by operational feedback and continuous investment in R&D (Research & Development), Naval Group illustrates through the Naval XPlore experience how its vessels and battle management systems furnish intelligent and innovative solutions aimed at adeptly meeting the requirements of modern navies.
