The Greek Navy with the LoR (Letter of Request for Letter of Acceptance) in February 2021 asked for 4 things from the US, that is, long before the MoU was signed in Paris between Greece and France for 3 + 1 FDI HN frigates. The Letter of Acceptance for the American offer arrived yesterday with all the relevant details. LoA's content (ie US response) in terms of price has nothing to do with what was written by news sites as it is much lower. These 4 things that were asked in February 2021 were the following:
1) New frigates (based on HF2 = MMSC) in the context of the process that was underway at the time.
2) Modernization of MEKO200HN in add-on configurations (ie, with options that would shape the final cost)
3) Intermediate Solution (with the possibility of rejection by the Greek Navy of various solutions such as the acquisition of Oliver Hazard Perry frigates), with "targeting" LCS Freedom and Ticonderoga cruisers, but also many other smaller ships and auxiliaries (assume Legend Class, Fleet oil tankers, etc.)
4) Greek participation in a new frigate design, ie with the prospect of Greece participating in the USN Constellation class frigates.
The USA with this LoA does not come to overturn the final decision of the Greek Navy since the acquisition of the French FDI HN has now taken on an official character while the first agreements with the French companies were signed. With this proposal, the USA comes to supplement the existing decision of the Greek Navy. The proposal brought by the USA, although in theory it responds fully and comprehensively to the initial request of the Greek Navy, nevertheless it can be activated in stages or partially, ie Greece can choose that it benefits from 1,2,3 and 4, and through them, whatever is needed. The US proposal is as follows:
1) Configuration of the LCS Freedom class in MMSC which for Greece would be called HF2 with the Navy being able to choose how to equip it, so that it comes to the level of capabilities and costs that it desires. In short, it can be shaped with a corvette rather than a frigate.
2) Modernization of the existing MEKO200HN in a version "equal" to the new frigates, always based on the CMS COMBATSS-21 but also what the Greek Navy has requested. The modernization can be applied to less than 4 ships if the Greek side wishes.
3) The US offers as an option, after consultation with the US Government (within the technocratic framework of EDA = Economic Development Administration), 3+1 used LCS Freedom Class.
4) Connection of Greece with the FFGX program, ie the future American frigate of class Constellation. There will also be assistance in designing a new class of warships specifically for Greek needs.
All of the above can be done independently. That is, Greece does not need to get HF2 or upgrade the MEKO200HN to get the used LCS. All of the above can be done without committing to additional purchases. The US potentially promises up to 10 ships at low cost (new, used, upgraded), which in combination with the 3 FDI HN will replace 100% of the aging existing Greek Fleet. With the American proposal there can be a replacement in all Kortenaer by the end of the decade.
The US offers:
1) We no longer know if the Ticonderoga are worth the effort and the cost of their concession, since the Hellenic Navy theoretically solved the issue of area air defense with the FDI HN frigates. The Navy had expressed strong concerns about the operating costs of these ships, although the firepower was equivalent to the entire Greek Fleet.
2) The Hellenic Navy may continue to receive LCS from the USN as the development of mainly destroyers in the Pacific is envisaged. The Americans will hold LCS for the Persian Gulf and the Western Pacific where they will operate with the Constellation. The USN recently said the ships are starting operations in Persian and South China. Some ships will be available through EDA from 2030 onwards when more Constellation class frigates are put into service. These ships are ideal to strengthen the Greek Fleet.
The 3 + 1 LCS class Freedom, could be the LCS with number 5 = Milwaukee, 7 = Detroit and 9 = Little Rock, can be delivered by USN, relatively quickly since the decommissioning of 2/3 will be done in 2022 . Then at a reasonable cost the Greek Navy can make ships much more powerful (with armaments and Mission Modules). There it should be considered whether the purchase of 4 Gowind corvettes is preferable to the concession of 4 LCS (with corvette power), the purchase of 2 new frigates (with reduced armament for cost reasons) and the modernization of some or all of the 4 MEKO200HN. The US proposal could potentially offer 8 ships with about 2 billion euros (2 HF2 "light", 4 LCS Upgraded, 2 MEKO200HN COMBATSS-21) or around 2.5 billion euros if all the MEKO200HN frigates are modernized and we "burden" the armament on HF2 frigates. That is, we have 8 ships with 2 billion euros and 10 ships with 2.5 billion euros.
By
Foulgrim
Σε μια κίνηση που δείχνει πως οι Αμερικανοί δεν καταθέτουν τα όπλα, σε ότι αφορά το Πολεμικό μας Ναυτικό, φτάνει σε λίγες ώρες (αν δεν έχει ήδη φτάσει), το Letter of Acceptance για την αμερικανική προσφορά σχετικά με τις... φρεγάτες, κάτι που το ξέρουμε από Παρασκευή βράδυ. Προκειμένου να μην...
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