Italy and Greece sign deal on frigate transfer

Italy and Greece have signed a memorandum paving the way for the transfer of two FREMM-class frigates from the Italian Navy to Greece.

The agreement was announced after Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto met his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, at the Seafuture exhibition in La Spezia on Monday.

Crosetto said Italy and Greece share a long-standing partnership within NATO and the European Union, and underlined the need for joint action in dealing with global and regional challenges. He highlighted that no country can respond to crises alone, pointing to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, instability in Africa, and tensions in the Balkans.

The minister described the memorandum as a tangible step in strengthening security in the Mediterranean and NATO’s southern flank, noting that it reflects how defence cooperation can support both regional stability and collective security.

Dendias, in a post on X, confirmed that the two sides had also signed a letter of intent on naval cooperation and the procurement of Bergamini-class frigates from Italy.

FREMM-class frigates

The FREMM (Fregata Europea Multi-Missione) project was launched by Italy and France in the early 2000s, producing a multi-role frigate for both navies.

In Italian service, the ships are known as the Bergamini class, while in France they are designated the Aquitaine class. Measuring 144.6 metres in length and nearly 20 metres in width, they displace around 6,900 tonnes. Powered by an electric-diesel propulsion system, they can reach 27 knots and operate up to 6,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 15 knots.

The class has a low radar profile and can be configured for either general-purpose or anti-submarine operations. Italy built 10 of these frigates between 2008 and 2024, selling two to Egypt in 2020.

Italian media have reported that Greece is set to acquire the Carlo Bergamini (F590), the first of the class commissioned in 2013, and the Virginio Fasan (F591), an anti-submarine version delivered later that year.

FREMM-class vessels are also in service with the navies of Egypt and Morocco, while Indonesia has ordered six ships from Italy.

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