Hundreds of people gathered at the Port of Thessaloniki on Sunday, 25 October 2026, to visit the Greek Navy’s advanced FDI HN frigate Kimon, as its first commanding officer highlighted the warship’s technological capabilities and strategic importance for Greece’s defence.
Families with young children and groups of visitors began arriving before the official visiting hours opened at 10 am, forming long queues to board the vessel. The enthusiastic reception delighted the crew, who welcomed visitors aboard.
“It was tremendously moving to arrive in the city and see the colours of the East over Thessaloniki,” Commander Ioannis Kizanis, the frigate’s commanding officer, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).
He also described the experience of mooring near the historic armoured cruiser Averof, which had previously visited the port, and alongside the preserved destroyer Velos, calling the location and the public reception a source of immense pride.
A Major Technological Leap for the Greek Navy
Read more: Greece’s New Frigate Kimon Opens to Public in Thessaloniki
Commander Kizanis described Kimon as a major technological advance for the Hellenic Navy, marking a transition from ships equipped with technology dating back to the 1980s to a platform incorporating modern systems.
The frigate can perform a broad range of naval missions, including area air defence, long-range defensive operations, anti-submarine warfare and support for special operations. Unlike vessels designed primarily for a single warfare role, Kimon combines capabilities across multiple operational domains.
The ship builds on the proven FREMM frigate design used by the French and Italian navies. Its improvements include the Herakles multifunction radar, which uses fixed antenna panels and active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology, rather than the rotating multifunction radar used on earlier FREMM configurations.
Kizanis said the vessel’s design particularly suits the Greek Navy’s operational requirements in the Aegean archipelago.
Advanced Missiles and Air Defence Capabilities
The frigate’s weapons systems attracted particular attention during the public tours. Its vertical launch system (VLS) can deploy 32 Aster missiles, giving the ship substantial air-defence capabilities.
Kizanis explained that the missiles combine long interception ranges with high manoeuvrability, making it difficult for hostile aircraft to approach or attack the frigate successfully.
He added that the ship’s design addresses a wide range of aerial threats, a capability that has become increasingly important amid developments in the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The commanding officer also noted international interest in the design. France operates the underlying frigate family, Greece has selected the FDI HN configuration, and Sweden has also chosen the design.
Pride, Responsibility and a Challenging Voyage to Greece
Kizanis described commanding Kimon as both an honour and a significant responsibility. He and the ship’s first chief engineer spent 18 months in France preparing the vessel and its crew for service.
The journey to Greece marked the culmination of an extended period of training, preparation and sea trials. The frigate sailed from Brest after taking on its ammunition and encountered difficult weather conditions in the Bay of Biscay, but its design enabled it to complete the passage without significant problems, according to the commander.
He praised the crew’s professionalism and said the responsibility of the mission remained at the forefront of his mind.
Kimon to Join Thessaloniki’s 28 October Celebrations
The frigate is scheduled to anchor off Thessaloniki’s White Tower in the early hours of Wednesday, 28 October, ahead of Greece’s national anniversary celebrations. The vessel will depart after the commemorations.
Kizanis said he hoped the frigate would return to Thessaloniki and visit Piraeus and other Greek islands in the future.
He also sent his wishes to the city ahead of the feast of Saint Demetrius, Thessaloniki’s patron saint, and the anniversary of the city’s liberation, as well as Greece’s 28 October national holiday.
“The Greeks can be certain that, if necessary, we will rise to the challenge, just as our ancestors did,” he said.
(Source: AMNA)