News France offers the Jean Bart and Latouche-Tréville frigates to Greece

[Test7]

France offers to give the Greek navy two first-class frigates, the "Jean Bart" (anti-aircraft warfare) and the "Latouche-Tréville" (anti-submarine warfare) free of charge. The French Navy will hand over its two vessels to Naval Group, if it is selected by Greece through an international call for tenders.


It was a real headache for France to meet Greece's demands. Beyond the purchase of four new frigates and the modernization of the four German-made MEKO frigates, the Greek Minister of Defense, who has launched an international call for tenders to re-equip his navy, also wants two ships quickly. used "ready" and "in good condition, possibly upgraded" .


Either "an intermediate solution"while awaiting the commissioning of new frigates in seven or eight years. Paris has found a solution, which could satisfy Greece and ... does not upset the French navy too much. It is in this context that Naval Group recently made its offer to Greece. The Minister of the

La France propose les frégates Jean Bart et Latouche-Tréville à la Grèce

La France propose de céder gratuitement à la marine grecque deux frégates de premier rang, le "Jean Bart" (lutte anti-aérienne), et le "Latouche-Tréville" (lutte anti-sous-marine). La marine nationale remettra ses deux bâtiments à Naval Group, s'il est sélectionné par la Grèce dans le cadre d'un...

www.latribune.fr

 

[Costin84]

As much as I admire French equipment, it's really to expensive for Greece. As formidable as the Belharra is.,4 of them cost the equivalent of 6 Damen 11515 frigates (with 32 MK41) or even 8 Arrowhead derivative ( also with 32mk41).That's a huge difference in price tags.

 

[Vergennes]

Don't forget the political attachments coming with the frigates (which is important for Greece). The US or French political support would be much more important than the Netherlands. Don't forget too one of the Greek requirements is for their future frigates to be able to fire cruise missiles.

 

[Costin84]

Don't forget the political attachments coming with the frigates (which is important for Greece). The US or French political support would be much more important than the Netherlands. Don't forget too one of the Greek requirements is for their future frigates to be able to fire cruise missiles.

I know that France is Greece's main political backer but a country in their position must count its pennies wise. Look at the current offer.To be honest, the 2 intermediary ships France offered are 2-3 years away from the scrapyard while Damen offers 2 quickly built 10514 corvettes which will remain with the Hellenic Navy atleast 25 years from now. Even with 2 new corvettes, 4 new frigates, it could still be cheaper than the French offer.Greece isn't exactly loaded. I'm not even counting the 2 Cassard intermediary frigates, those are old,boneyard material to be honest.2 Arrowhead frigates are like 1.2 billion $ while 2 Belharra cost 3 billion $.....it's a huge difference!

 

[Vergennes]

I know that France is Greece's main political backer but a country in their position must count its pennies wise. Look at the current offer.To be honest, the 2 intermediary ships France offered are 2-3 years away from the scrapyard while Damen offers 2 quickly built 10514 corvettes which will remain with the Hellenic Navy atleast 25 years from now. Even with 2 new corvettes, 4 new frigates, it could still be cheaper than the French offer.Greece isn't exactly loaded. I'm not even counting the 2 Cassard intermediary frigates, those are old,boneyard material to be honest.2 Arrowhead frigates are like 1.2 billion $ while 2 Belharra cost 3 billion $.....it's a huge difference!

I'm not denying Damen's offer is really solid,just that there are more things to take into account as I said in my above post.

As for those two frigates (Jean Bart and Latouche Tréville) as much as they are proposed as a temporary or stop gap solution,those frigates should have been scraped since years ago already but were kept in service due to cost and the fact Fremm frigates were delayed. Their equipments (a part the Smart S on the JB which will be saved) sensors,armaments etc. are pretty much outdated.

The best solution would be to give the Hellenic Navy two Lafayette frigates for free but would fund the integration of VLS in front of the ship.

 

[Oryx]

Just compare these two offers.

France:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1374327422963830787

The Netherlands:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1374331277176934403

 

[Nilgiri]

I'm not denying Damen's offer is really solid,just that there are more things to take into account as I said in my above post.

As for those two frigates (Jean Bart and Latouche Tréville) as much as they are proposed as a temporary or stop gap solution,those frigates should have been scraped since years ago already but were kept in service due to cost and the fact Fremm frigates were delayed. Their equipments (a part the Smart S on the JB which will be saved) sensors,armaments etc. are pretty much outdated.

The best solution would be to give the Hellenic Navy two Lafayette frigates for free but would fund the integration of VLS in front of the ship.

How many years are forseeably left on these two for Greece to operate?

 

[Oryx]

How many years are forseeably left on these two for Greece to operate?

That depends on a whole range of factors. But realistically speaking probably not more than a few years (Jean Bart and Latouche Tréville). The Dutch M-class could probably operate for at least another five to ten years.

The issue with operating the French ships for such a short period is that you would have to train crews on two different ships, and that for only a few years of operations.

 

[Vergennes]

How many years are forseeably left on these two for Greece to operate?

The French Navy estimates the potential of the Lafayette frigates til 2030 approximately.

 

[Costin84]

That depends on a whole range of factors. But realistically speaking probably not more than a few years (Jean Bart and Latouche Tréville). The Dutch M-class could probably operate for at least another five to ten years.

The issue with operating the French ships for such a short period is that you would have to train crews on two different ships, and that for only a few years of operations.

The Dutch aren't offering the M class but a permanent solution, 2 newly, quickly built Sigma corvettes ( their shipyards can deliver them in 24-30 months).The Dutch Navy is thinly spread, they barely have assets to do their duty now ( 4 DeZeven + 2 M class) and their FSC frigates aren't arriving until 2028.....dispensing of the M class is a no go for the RNN.

 

[Oryx]

The Dutch aren't offering the M class but a permanent solution, 2 newly, quickly built Sigma corvettes ( their shipyards can deliver them in 24-30 months).The Dutch Navy is thinly spread, they barely have assets to do their duty now ( 4 DeZeven + 2 M class) and their FSC frigates aren't arriving until 2028.....dispensing of the M class is a no go for the RNN.

Apparently they are!

''Two Karel Doorman class are offered to the HN directly from the Netherlands Government''

Damen Details Dutch Frigates Proposal for Hellenic Navy - Naval News

Dutch shipbuilder Damen is proposing a new design for the Hellenic Navy frigate requirement. The brand-new SIGMA 11515 Frigates are part of a wider package offer by Damen in partnership with Thales Nederland, with support of the government of The Netherlands.

www.navalnews.com

 

[Nilgiri]

That depends on a whole range of factors. But realistically speaking probably not more than a few years (Jean Bart and Latouche Tréville). The Dutch M-class could probably operate for at least another five to ten years.

The issue with operating the French ships for such a short period is that you would have to train crews on two different ships, and that for only a few years of operations.

It sound too pricey, yes I just looked these ships were laid down in the mid 80s.

Greece GDP is now 200 billion USD roughly (from the 2008 peak of 350 billion in those older dollars too), their finances are still very precarious.... they would need to extract maximum economy out of every pricey purchase w.r.t their military....interims/leases etc are antithesis of that.

Maybe its all part of some larger thing they are commiting to with France like vergennes say if they pick this one.