Their final bids for his corvette procurement program Naval testified last Thursday by the French and Italian representatives who have been in Athens for the past few days. The corvette program is currently valued at 1.5 billion euros, and according to today’s data, involves the construction of three ships with the possibility of adding a fourth. The specific amount relates to the construction of three ships, in the event French Gowind 2500 and in this from Italian FCx30 – Doha. Whichever of the two proposals is accepted, it will be implemented through the process of intergovernmental agreement (“G to G”), while in the case of the French it seems that Naval Group an agreement was reached to produce Shipyards Scaramanga and Italian Fincantieri with Shipyards of Elefsina and the ONEKS group. In short, both parties offer opportunities for co-production with Greece.

In both cases, if the contract is signed during 2023, the first corvette will be built locally (in France or Italy) and delivered in 2025, and the rest in Greece. Therefore, it is quite clear that whether corvettes will be built in Greece depends solely on whether the Greek side will be able to have operating shipyards after 2025. However, French or Italian shipyards have the ability to produce ships of this type for 6 or 8 people. months if needed. Although there is no specific deadline, it is assumed that Athens will reach one of the two proposals by early 2023, in order to then have time to negotiate the final contract with whoever is selected.

The French and Italians finalized their proposals last Thursday – at the beginning of the new year of Athens’ decision.

MEKO

Finally, it is noted that the modernization procedures for MEKO-class frigates are proceeding normally. In fact, a total budget of 600 million euros was approved for their modernization, which is slightly higher than the 500 million that was initially considered sufficient. MEKO modernization is paramount to keep them operational in a fleet that, despite significant future additions (FDI and corvettes), is rapidly aging. Of the 9 older Dutch S-type aircraft, three non-modernised ones are expected to be taken out of service in the next two years, and the gaps that may arise in the daily operations of the fleet will be filled in various ways.