Greece to buy fourth Belharra frigate from France

Greece’s information council, KYSEA, approved connected Wednesday the acquisition of a 4th Belharra frigate from France to modernize its equipped forces and arsenic it tries to support gait with historical rival Turkey, two authorities sources told Reuters.

Greece has a long-standing quality with its NATO state Turkey implicit maritime waters, and the information assembly gathering comes aft Ankara said it would behaviour technological probe successful the Aegean Sea successful the coming days.

Athens agreed successful 2021 to procure caller Belharra frigates for astir €3 cardinal ($3.3 billion), with an enactment for 1 more, arsenic it aims to regenerate aged vessels that person operated for much than 30 years successful its navy.

“KYSEA approved the procurement of a 4th Belharra frigate from France,” said a elder authorities official, without giving details connected the cost.
A 2nd authoritative confirmed the purchase.

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said earlier connected Wednesday, aft a presumption to KYSEA, that the caller frigate would transportation ballistic missiles.

The acquisition is expected to beryllium approved by a parliamentary committee successful the coming days.

Greece plans to spend much than 25 cardinal euros successful the adjacent 10 years arsenic portion of a multi-year defence plan, which includes caller F-35 combatant jets from the US, caller submarines, caller air, oversea and underwater drones and an anti-aircraft dome, called the “Achilles Shield.” [Reuters]