Hellenic Navy procurement programmes
The total armament programs of the current 15-year period (for the period 2011-2025) amount to 373, which include the recorded needs of all the armed forces. The Army General Staff has approved the implementation of only 31 programs taking into account not only the operational needs but also the current economic situation.
| PROGRAMS | COST (€) | PERCENTAGE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 29 | 18.144.011.494 | 100% |
| General | 2 | 219.484.343,904 | 1,6% |
| Army | 13 | 400.558.927.624,8 | 29,2% |
| Navy | 7 | 355.290.281.694,6 | 25,9% |
| Aifroce | 9 | 593.979.505.690,2 | 43,3% |
In 2020 the budget of the Ministry of Defense was strengthened with additional appropriations of 370,000,000 euros, while for the 2021 it increased from 3,350,000,000 euros (2020) to 5,440,000,000 euros. From July 2019 until the end of 2020, 48 funded sub-programs worth 830,000,000 euros have been implemented, and are followed by 105 sub-programs with a total value of 11,500,000,000 euros for the next six to seven years.
To date, the following procurement programmes have been decided or implemented:
| DATE | CONTRACT | COST (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 30.12.2020 | supply of 4 UAS type Camcopter S-100 for the MEKO 200HN frigates | 25.000.000 |
| 20.12.2020 | supply of 29 vessels of various types for the Coast Guard [1] | 12.750.000 |
| 25.09.2020 | supply of 6 Rigid Hull Boats for Special Naval Warfare | USD 8.898.065 |
| 22.09.2020 | torpedo countermeasures for submarines Type 214HN [2] | 10.000.000 |
| 09.09.2020 | supply and modernization of torpedoes [3] | 105.000.000 |
| 03.08.2020 | supply of 4 anti-submarine helicopters with weapons and FOS MH-60R Seahawk Romeo | 285.000.000 |
| 03.08.2020 | FOS for the 11 operating S-70 Aegean Hawk | 80.000.000 |
| 25.05.2020 | modernization 4 ΜΕΚΟ 200ΗΝ [4] | 400.000.000 |
| 04.05.2020 | supply of 2 UAV Heron for 3 years | 44.500.000 |
| 03.05.2020 | upgrade / replacement of air surveillance equipment [5] | 12.000.000 |
| 30.01.2020 | acquisition of two coastal patrols [6] | 33.780.000 |
| 28.06.2019 | acquisition of 3 ships for patient transport [7] | 1.410.000 |
| 22.01.2019 | supply of 3 + 2 patrol boats P355 CPV | 42.000.000 |
| 24.08.2018 | acquisition of two coastal patrols [8] | 13.890.000 |
[1] The program includes 20 RIBs with a length of 11-13 meters, 2 RIBs for special operations with a length of 12-13 meters, 4 RIBs to equip the Sa'ar 4s & Arkoi, and 3 FRBs for the Sa'ar 4 patrol boats.
[2] The sub-program "Supply of Torpedoes Countermeasures and their Support (FOS) with an Optional Purchase "aims to acquire 48 + 14 MTE 103B (decoys) and 72 + 21 JAM 102 (jammers). The 24 MTE 103B will be delivered within 18 months from the date of activation of the contract, while the remaining 24 within 24 months. These countermeasures misguide the torpedoes away from the original of the target. The 36 JAM 102 will be delivered within 24 months from the date of the contract activation and the remaining 36 within 30 months. Jammers emit a high intensity and long range noise spectrum covering the noise emitted by the submarine.
[3] The program includes the acquisition of 36 DM-2A4 heavy torpedoes and the upgrade of 18 - 20 of the 112 older SUT Mod 0 torpedoes to SUT Mod 4 level. The program also includes the acquisition of countermeasures for submarine class 214. The German proposal prevailed over both the French with the F21 and the Italian with the Black Shark torpedoes, as it ensures full compatibility with the submarine combat systems (ISUS 90-15 and ISUS-90-46), as well as providing free modernization of 25 old torpedoes.
The number of 36 torpedoes is considered insufficient in quantity (as opposed to the original requirement of the Navy for 51 torpedoes), as well as in quality as it is not the most technological advanced option. The guidance of the SeaHake Mod 4 is based on a combination of wired guidance (via fiber optics, which makes it the first operational torpedo guided by optical fiber) and active / passive sonar. The torpedo is powered by an electric motor with energy supplied by batteries and depending on the version is capable of achieving a maximum speed of 50 knots (92.6 hp) and a range of up to 50 km.
Wired guidance allows data to be exchanged between the torpedo sensors and those of the submarine through the latter's Combat Management Center. In the event that the fiber optic cable is cut-off, the torpedo is capable of autonomous navigation and target engagement. In March 2012 the manufacturer presented a version of SeaHake mod4 ER (Extended Range) with a maximum range of 140km, making this torpedo the largest underwater weapon in the world.
[4] The ,ain new components of this program include the new AESA radar, the new Combat Management System (CMS), Link-16 data link, Electronic Support Measures (ESM)etc.
[5] The Ministry of Shipping announced the international competition for the upgrade or replacement of the air surveillance equipment for the Reims-406 aircraft, as well as the three AS365 N3 Dauphin helicopters. The budget of the program amounts to € 12,000,000 (VAT exempt) and it is co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
The terms of the tender dictate the completion of the procurement and the installation of all systems within a period of up to 24 months from the date of signature. The first upgraded helicopter and aircraft must be ready within 15 months, the second upgraded helicopter and aircraft within 21 months and the related infrastructure of the third helicopter and plane within 24 months.
[6] The signature of a contract with the contractors "F B Design S.R.L" and "Electronica Marittima S.R.L "for the supply of 15 speedboats with an additional option for three more, has a total budget of 33,780,000.00 euros. The delivery of all the boats started in October 2020 and will be completed in the 2nd half of 2023.
The project is co-financed by two different funding programs, the Fisheries and Maritime Operational Program 2014-2020 and by the Special Action "FRONTEX Agency Equipment" of the European Union Internal Security Fund, with the aim of increasing the operational capacity of the Hellenic Coast Guard.
[7] The total cost amounts to 1,410,000 euros and the 3 ships will be built in a Greek shipyard. The boats are to be used for incident handling related to the humanitarian crisis and transportation of critically ill patients.
The total length of each boat will be at least 11 meters, the number of passengers will be at least ten people and will include a specially designed cabin, equipped with suitable medical equipment, such as stretcher, multi-injured immobilization board, resuscitation-artificial ventilation device, defibrillator, portable respirator, surgical instruments etc.
The supplier will provide a guaranteed operation for each boat for at least 6 years or 6,000 operating hours (whichever comes first), during which the company will be responsible for the proper operation, technical support and maintenance of each boat and its equipment.
The boats will be able to operate under adverse weather conditions, either independently or in cooperation with the other Coast Guard vessels. This procurement programme is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is included in the Act "Treatment of Refugees and Transfer of Patients by Sea - PAIONAS" implemented in the framework of the INTERREG V-A Cooperation Program "Greece-Cyprus 2014-2020".
[8] The Italian company Cantiere Navale Vitoria SPA won the contract for the tender No. 09/2017 for the acquisition of two coastal patrol boats with the option for 2 additional ones, with a length of over 30 meters (but not more than 45 meters), with a total value of € 55,560,000 (the value per boat is estimated at € 13,890,000). The new boats are intended to replace the old 29-meter-long patrol cars of the class Delos (or otherwise known as Abeking) of the Hellenic Coast Guard. The program was later modified to include 3 + 1 boats, after the European Commission decided to co-finance it by 90%.
