Where are the Greek patriotic businessmen? N. Panagiotopoulos is looking for €1 billion for the fourth Belh @ rra frigate

Yesterday in a conversation with the Minister of Defense to R / S “PARAPOLITIKA 90.1” And the journalist Lambros Kalaretis, it was revealed that we are looking for a billion euros to buy another French frigate.

Brilliant Curler: With Belharra’s fourth option, is it over or are we extending it? What happens there;

Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos: It is difficult to find another billion for the fourth Belh @ rra when, for example, the decision is imminent for three cruisers, which will cost about 1.6-1.7 billion.

In any case, that option is still on the table. We have three statements. In fact, two of the three are expected to be delivered, according to schedule, in the middle and end of 2025.

very soon! The construction of these ships is progressing well on schedule, slightly ahead of schedule in France and beyond.

However, because the fourth Belh @ rra is another billion in the defense budget, you know, that has to be known when we made the decision to invest also in cruisers and it’s three ships and so cover what the Navy has always said and needs, ie more ships, more ships front new.

I remind you that at the same time, the mid-life update of the four MEKO frigates is also taking place.

The technical dialogue has already begun with the original manufacturer, the Germans who built it, and this will take time to finalize. That is, what exactly are these ships going to care about or are they going to upgrade in terms of their systems. A mid-life modernization of a ship approaching 35 years old seems a bit jarring and an oxymoron.” He said among other things.

Creation of a national defense fund with the participation of all Greeks everywhere

It is not a shame, but a very right act, to create a private national defense fund and through the Greek Church to collect money from the Greek expatriates in Europe, America and Australia, in order to acquire another naval weapon system, which will greatly change the situation in the Aegean Sea, given the presence of a carrier Anadolou Turkish helicopters in the Aegean Sea.

But what does the acquisition of a fourth FDI-class frigate mean for the Hellenic Navy?

In the first place, we will have four state-of-the-art frigates, which, “riding” from Thassos to Kastellorizo, can turn the Aegean Sea into a no-go zone, that is, a no-entry zone for any Turkish warship and submarine whatsoever.

However, such a move by the latest navy warships would require Greek Rafales and F-16s to “block” the airspace of the Aegean Sea, causing real consternation in Turkey.

In less than five years, Greece will upend the maritime balance of power with Turkey, which has a state-of-the-art fleet (it has seen it since the time of the Balkan Wars and this is certainly no coincidence).

Thus, our country will have a modern fleet with a speed of no less than eight modern surface units in contrast to the current situation, which gives a great boost to our naval forces in the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean.

The new Belhara will deliver excellent performance, in deterrence and underwater intervention, in a complex area of ​​operations such as the Aegean Sea, especially in conjunction with the projection capability provided by the S70B or MH60/R helicopter it carries.

Belhara also has a new capability against asymmetric threats, thanks to an innovative concept organized around a new operational logic that focuses on these threats.

The frigate has a dedicated bay, which provides a permanent 360-degree optoelectronic view, day and night, which allows it to deal with nearby threats, thanks to the rapid and safe use of lethal and non-lethal devices.

Pilhara’s physical and digital infrastructures guarantee an evolutionary potential that guarantees that the Hellenic Navy will be able to confront emerging and future threats during the life of the ship, (Drones, cyber missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, threats on the surface, but also below the surface). sea, etc.).

Already with the Rafale and Mirage leaving no room in the airwaves, the Turks are in a difficult position, while they rock the new frigates that will sail in the Aegean Sea.

No need to repeat that with a total strength of 10-12 of our war-ready warships, the Turkish Navy will not be able to move without interruption in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean, because the Turkish surface units will be “shut off” by the terrible radars of the French FDI Frigates. – HN, with EXOSET MM40 BLOCK-3 missiles, which have a range of more than 200 km.