The Hydra classHydra class MEKO-200HN frigates, article with many photos in seaforces.org Hydra class frigates of the Hellenic Navy, presentation in naval-technology.com are a group of four frigates in service with the Hellenic Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case the MEKO 200 design. The programme was authorised in 1988 and partially paid for with FMS aid and provisioned for the commission of six vessels. The first ship was built in Germany and commissioned in 1992 the rest of built in Greece but suffered a serious fire while working up near Portland, England. Repairs were completed in 1993. The Greek built warships were delayed due to financial problems on the part of the Hellenic Shipyards completing in the late 1990s which also led to limiting the total number of vessels to four mainly after the acquisition of eight frigates from the Netherlands in the late 1990s.
Upgrade programs In 2007, an upgrade of the STIR fire control system to allow the firing of the RIM-162 ESSM surface-to-air missile was launched. was the first to be upgraded and, in August 2008, successfully completed a live firing test. The other three Hydra vessels were upgraded during 2008.
On 25 April 2018 the Greek defense minister Panos Kammenos announced that the modernization of the four vessels is in progress but without presenting any further details about the program.The 4 Hydra class frigates to be modernized, onalert.gr 25/04/2018 (in Greek) .
In May 2019, the Joint Chiefs of General Staff Council (ΣΑΓΕ) decided the commencement of the modernization program for the four ships of the class.Article about the modernization program of MEKO 200HN frigates in the defense online magazine "Defencepoint.gr" (in Greek) 19/05/2019 The program was finally approved by the Greek Parliament in April 2023. However, the basic contracts for new on board systems were signed with Thales Group, a Greek company and a Greek shipyard only between May and July 2026.
Ships Ship Namesake Builder CommissionedStatus F-452 Hydra ΎδραHydra Blohm + Voss 12 November 1992In service F-453 Spetsai ΣπέτσαιSpetses Hellenic Shipyards24 October 1996 In serviceF-454 Psara ΨαράPsaraHellenic Shipyards30 April 1998In serviceF-455 Salamis ΣαλαμίςSalamisHellenic Shipyards16 December 1998In service
Gallery
See also List of frigate classes in service
Equivalent frigates of the same era
Type 053H3
References
Sources Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995 Hellenic Navy website