Greece officially commissions second Belharra frigate Nearchos

On October 30, 2026, the Greek Navy officially held a flag-raising ceremony for its second FDI-class frigate, named 'Nearchos'. The event took place at the Naval Group shipyards in Lorient, France, with Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias and the leadership of the Armed Forces in attendance. This vessel follows the first frigate, 'Kimon', and precedes the scheduled additions of the 'Formion' and 'Themistoklis' to the Hellenic fleet.

During the ceremony, Minister Dendias highlighted the advanced capabilities of the ship, noting that once upgraded to the 'Standard 2++' configuration, it will be among the most sophisticated vessels of its class globally. He also emphasized the significance of Greek-French defense cooperation and the increasing role of Greek industrial participation in the construction of subsequent frigates. The 'Nearchos' is expected to arrive in Greece by early December 2026.

Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, described the frigate as an embodiment of modern naval warfare. The induction of these vessels is part of a broader, ongoing modernization program for the Greek Navy, aimed at significantly bolstering the country's operational capabilities in the Mediterranean region.