Greece is completing its purchase of two Italian FREMM Bergamini-class frigates, with Defense Minister Nikos Dendias traveling to Rome to sign the agreement alongside counterpart Guido Crosetto Tuesday.
The deal sets the legal, financial and technical terms for the used warships, amid strained Greek-Turkish relations, and leaves open buying more Italian vessels later. Officials say “Greece saw the opportunity and seized it,” noting Italy’s navy is shifting to next-generation FREMM EVO ships, creating a low-cost acquisition window.
The two frigates are expected to cost no more than €460 million combined. The Carlo Bergamini will be delivered in the first half of 2028, followed by the Virginio Fasan in 2029. Both carry Aster-30 air-defense missiles, Kronos radar and CAPTAS-4 sonar, with Exocet or Harpoon anti-ship missiles added. They join FDI-class ships in Greece’s Achilles’ Shield defense network.
