Italian and Greek firms strengthen naval ties
Fincantieri's bid for the Greek corvette requirement is based on the FCX30 Doha-class design being built for Qatar. (Photo: Fincantieri)
Italian defence companies, including Leonardo, MBDA, Elettronica and Fincantieri, have signed a series of further MoUs with potential Greek suppliers.
Last December, Fincantieri inked an agreement with Onex Shipyards and Technologies, opening the door for collaboration on new ships for the Hellenic Navy.
The newest signings were held at Onex Elefsis Shipyards, which could build Fincantieri-designed corvettes should the Greek government award the programme to the Fincatieri-Onex cooperation.
In a statement, the Italian companies said the new agreements set the basis for defining long-term business relationships with Greek suppliers.
Under the prior agreement, two, plus a possible extra one, FCX30 Doha-class corvettes could be constructed at the Elefsis shipyard.
France’s Naval Group is in competition with the Fincantieri partnership for the work and is already producing new frigates for Greece.
France has formed its own industrial ties in pursuit of the corvette programme. Naval Group is offering Athens its Gowind-class design.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Corvettes Procurement Programme (1-3) [Greece]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships
Ireland has a maritime area ten times the size of its land mass but has a limited naval capacity and faces an ongoing threat to critical underwater infrastructure. A new strategy is looking to address the challenge.
-
US Navy to deploy UAVs with standard munitions in long-range strikes
As part of the Runway Independent Maritime & Expeditionary Strike programme, the US Navy is pursuing drones capable of delivering palletised rounds or 1,000lb-class munitions.
-
Turkey targets Italian market with strategic partnership on USVs and hybrid platforms
Havelsan, VN Maritime and Piloda Defence will collaborate to develop and integrate a range of maritime solutions with a view to secure a first procurement contract in Italy in the first half of this year.