Greece will officially welcome its second FDI (Belharra)-class frigate, Nearchos, into the Hellenic Navy on Friday, October 30, 2026, during a flag-raising ceremony at the Naval Group shipyards in Lorient, France.
National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias and the senior military leadership of the Hellenic Armed Forces will attend the ceremony, which will take place around midday and mark the vessel’s formal entry into Greek naval service.
Nearchos is the second modern FDI frigate to join the Hellenic Navy, following the commissioning of the first vessel, Kimon.
Greece expects to receive its third FDI frigate, Formion, later this year, followed by the fourth vessel, Themistocles.
Read more: Greece Raises Its Flag on New Frigate Nearchos in France
Before the flag-raising ceremony, Dendias will meet his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin, for bilateral talks.
The discussions will focus on Greek-French defence cooperation, regional and European security developments, and opportunities to further strengthen the strategic relationship between the two countries.
Particular emphasis will fall on implementing existing agreements, cooperation in the defence industry and coordinating responses to contemporary security challenges.
(Source: AMNA)