Greece takes delivery of first French-made Belharra frigate

Greece on Thursday formally took delivery of the first of four new French-made Belharra frigates. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the frigate, named Kimon, "is one more link in a continuous effort to modernise the armed forces, both in terms of the assets Greece possess and in strengthening human resources, so that his country’s deterrent capability is not questioned by anyone."

The warship's welcoming ceremony outside the naval base of Salamis included a copy of an ancient Athenian trireme and the Georgios Averof, a historic cruiser that fought in the Balkan Wars. Greek President Constantinos Tassoulas said the frigate had "extraordinary" capabilities in surface operations, anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, electronic warfare, and self-defence.