Italy is set to sell two Fremm-class frigates, currently active in its own navy, to Greece, marking the continuation of Italy’s successful track record in supplying naval vessels to customers who require rapid delivery.
On Monday, the national armaments directors of Italy and Greece signed a preliminary agreement for the transfer of the Bergamini, a general-purpose FREMM, and the Fasan, an anti-submarine variant, to the Greek navy.
Both frigates were constructed by the Italian state-owned shipbuilder Fincantieri and have been operational in Italy since 2013. Fincantieri, which will manage the transaction, stated that the final agreement will include a support package under its oversight. Greek reports suggest that each ship will be sold for €300 million ($352 million).
A major advantage of the deal is speed, as Greece can receive the vessels much sooner than it would take to build new ones—an important factor amid growing military tensions in the Mediterranean and competition with Turkey.
This agreement follows Italy’s previous sales of vessels already under construction to Indonesia and Egypt. For instance, last year Indonesia signed a €1.18 billion contract for two Fincantieri PPA ships, and Italy expedited the deal by offering ships already being built for its own fleet. To replenish its own naval order, Italy subsequently commissioned two additional PPA vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2029 and 2030.
Italy has also sold two Fremm frigates to Egypt, which were nearing completion for the Italian navy at the time. These vessels were quickly replaced by new orders to maintain Italy’s fleet numbers.
The sale to Greece not only enables rapid reinforcement of its naval capabilities but also allows Italy to order two upgraded FREMM ‘Evo’ frigates to replace the ones transferred, maintaining the strength of its own fleet.
