A request for the opening of discussions to acquire two FREMM frigates is expected to be sent by the Greek government to Paris within the next month. Contacts between Greece and France will begin initially at a military level, starting in February, when it is expected to have reached Paris and the relevant document by the Greek government. Well-informed sources reported that this move comes after a verbal agreement between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and French President Emmanuel Makron during his last visit to Athens last September.
The original goal of Athens is to reach agreement on two FREMM multi-role frigates and the most optimistic think that they could possibly be expanded by two more ships ( a total of four). However, due to the relatively high unit costs (EUR 500-600 million per frigate), the same sources reported that Athens is prepared to discuss the alternative supply of French Gowind-type Corvettes.
These corvettes are a much more cost effective solution. In any case, FREMM's specifications are FREMM, as frigates with enhanced anti-aircraft capabilities and, above all, a presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is becoming increasingly important for Greece, as well as the area of cooperation with Cyprus Democracy and Israel. It is noted that the supply of modern frigates is judged by GHMEA and GEN as an absolute priority, on the one hand due to the aging of the existing fleet and on the other hand due to the growing increase in Greece's need for the open sea.
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