Navigating New Frontiers: Strategies for Hellenic Firms in FDI HN Frigate Integration

As the frigate initiative progresses, Naval Group has honored its pledges to include the Hellenic industry, thereby enhancing its collaboration with our Hellenic associates.

In conjunction with the FDI frigates program for the Hellenic Navy, Naval Group has established a comprehensive Hellenic Industrial Participation strategy aimed at fostering new capabilities within the Hellenic industry, preserving highly skilled jobs, and generating enduring economic benefits in Greece.

As the Hellenic Industrial Participation agenda for the FDI frigates advances, Naval Group is ready to deepen these collaborations further to bring additional business and employment opportunities in Greece for the Gowind corvettes initiative.

David Quancard, Naval Group Executive Vice-President of Operations and Performance remarked: “At Naval Group, we firmly believe that collaboration is a critical and strategic element for the success of the intricate programs we undertake. We take pride in having Hellenic partners involved in our FDI efforts and are eager to work with them on the Gowind corvettes and other Naval Group vessels.”

To date, 23 agreements have been finalized with Hellenic partners for the FDI frigates involving 10 Greek firms. The latest contracts were executed at the Hellenic Pavilion during Euronaval in October, and work has already commenced:

• SALAMIS
Naval Group and Salamis Shipyards have formalized an agreement for the fabrication of multiple hull blocks for the FDI frigates in Greece. This contract could encompass blocks for up to 6 frigates, catering to both the French and Hellenic navies. These blocks, weighing between 25 and 100 tonnes, will be constructed on Salamis Island and delivered to Lorient for final assembly. The initiation meeting was conducted on November 15th, 2022, and the production engineering and shipyard readiness are underway, with steel works anticipated to commence in early 2023.

“Following our selection this October by Naval Group to manufacture several pre-outfitted blocks for the French and Greek FDI frigates, we have commenced preparing our facilities and equipment. Conversations with Naval Group teams are progressing in a very positive manner, and we are excited to begin production in Q1 2023,” stated George Koros, CEO of SALAMIS SHIPYARDS & ENGINEERING.

• AKMON
On November 18th, 2022, at the Hellenic Pavilion of Euronaval, AKMON SA and Naval Group formalized a contract for the manufacturing of various consoles and electronic cabinets for the FDI frigates’ Combat Management System, Integrated Bridge, and Navigation System as well as the Integrated Platform Management System. The initiation meeting took place on November 16th, 2022.

Following an initial training and knowledge transfer period for the AKMON team at the Naval Group site in Angoulême-Ruelle, production will commence in 2023 at Ano Liosia Industrial Park in Greece.

AKMON is delighted to initiate the fabrication of these consoles and cabinets in our facilities at Ano Liosia Industrial Park for the FDI frigates. With the substantial support of Naval Group, we are confident that this inaugural step will lead to numerous additional opportunities for FDI and other naval projects,” emphasized Tassos Rozolis, CEO of AKMON.

• MEVACO
Since the signing of a Framework Agreement and a contract at Eurosatory in June 2022, the partnership between Naval Group and MEVACO SA has been evolving with teams collaborating and contracts being signed.

After a qualification phase for the welders by Bureau Veritas, production commenced in Aspropirgos in September 2022. The first Factory Acceptance Test was successfully completed on November 23rd, 2022, for the very first equipment “made in Greece” for the FDI frigates. This equipment, a significant structural hull component requiring high mechanical precision (and the first of a series), will now be shipped to Lorient for installation on the second Hellenic frigate.

George Organopoulos, Head of MEVACO Defense Department commented, “MEVACO is currently producing various mechanical components for the FDI frigates, and we are proud to deliver our first equipment on schedule and meeting the required quality standards. The relationship with Naval Group teams is outstanding and very constructive across all areas.”

• EMMIS
EMMIS, a distinguished firm specializing in electric transformers, is actively engaged in the FDI frigates program for both the French and Hellenic navies. EMMIS joined the Naval Group supply chain in June 2022 and was contracted in the same month to supply electrical components for the FDI frigates. The production of the first set has already begun at EMMIS’ facility in Kifisia, with the first delivery to Lorient expected by mid-June 2023.

Andreas Miserlis, CEO of EMMIS stated, “We are incredibly proud to be among the first Greek firms selected by Naval Group for the FDI frigates, and our production is progressing according to schedule. We are optimistic that this initial collaboration with Naval Group will open doors to additional project opportunities across all types of naval vessels.”

• MAREL and THEMYS
THEMYS, a Tier 1 supplier for Naval Group’s FDI frigates communications and navigation systems, awarded a contract to the Hellenic company MAREL.

MAREL, along with its affiliate SPACEL, both situated in Piraeus, is currently participating in the FDI frigates program to supply various navigation and communication systems (radar system components, echosounder, heading repeater, VDR, SATCOM, GMDSS, etc.). Following a rigorous pre-qualification process led by Naval Group, once the equipment arrives in Lorient, MAREL specialists will assist with its installation onboard as well as during the testing and trials phase.

“With the robust support of Naval Group, we are proud to involve MAREL in the FDI initiative, thereby contributing to the Naval Group Hellenic Industry Participation strategy. Our collaboration is progressing smoothly, and we anticipate the first deliveries in Lorient in the upcoming weeks,” shares Pierre Jousse, THEMYS President & CEO.

“We are very pleased with our collaboration with THEMYS, with whom we have a strong alignment, enabling us to receive training for the FDI frigates. We are eager to expand our collaboration with THEMYS and Naval Group for further initiatives (e.g., In-Service Support) and other naval projects,” outlines Kyriakos Alexopoulos, MAREL Managing Director.

Boosting the naval industrial activity in Greece

In addition to their involvement in the frigates program, all qualified Greek companies will become integrated into Naval Group’s supply chain and will have the opportunity to contend in future international competitions, thereby enhancing their capabilities as well as their potential economic advantages and visibility in the global naval market. Thanks to its long-standing presence in Greece, Naval Group has successfully identified and partnered with numerous highly skilled and innovative firms. As of now, more than 80 projects have been pinpointed, and the Group has begun engaging with over 50 prequalified Hellenic firms.

Naval Group’s Hellenic Industrial Participation scheme will thus contribute not only to the construction of the FDI HN but also to the establishment of a robust naval industrial ecosystem in Greece. The structured and long-term collaboration proposed by Naval Group will promote production within Greece and enhance the capability to address future needs.