A Dutch subsidiary of the French multinational company Thales and Germany’s naval shipbuilding company thyssenkrupp Marine Systems have formed a consortium for the planned modernization program of the Hellenic Navy MEKO 200 frigates.
The consortium agreement was signed by both partners on December 12, 2023.
As informed, the four MEKO 200 HN frigates have been in service with the Hellenic Navy since the mid-1990s. In order to extend the service life of the fleet, the navy intends to commission a comprehensive modernization (mid-life upgrade).
The original equipment manufacturers of the four warships, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Thales, were approached for the modernization program.
The frigates in question are HS Hydra (F 452), HS Spetsai (F 453), HS Psara (F 454) and HS Salamis (F 455) .
As part of the new consortium, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is to be responsible for modernizing the ships’ platforms.
As a system house, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will supply not only the design documents but also the communication systems. For this purpose, a subcontract is to be awarded to Hagenuk Marinekommunikation, a subsidiary of ATLAS ELEKTRONIK.
Thales will in turn provide the combat system, with the combat management system TACTICOS as its foundation, for the MEKO 200 HN frigates and assume the role of spokesperson in the partnership consortium based in Hengelo, the Netherlands.
“With the joint contract for the modernization of the frigates, we are once again a strong partner for the Hellenic Navy. On the one hand, this further strengthens our order book and, on the other, underlines our role and strength as a maritime powerhouse that combines electronics, surface and underwater shipbuilding under one roof. A further milestone on our road to independence of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems,” Oliver Burkhard , CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, commented.
thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will subcontract the ship platform modifications to a local Greek shipyard. The consortium will be the exclusive contact for the Hellenic Navy. It is expected that the order will be received in 2024.