Greece and France have taken an important step to strengthen their strategic partnership in the field of defense. Following the meeting between Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu in Athens, Greece announced that it will 16 Exocet anti-ship missiles An agreement was signed for the supply of these weapons. This agreement is considered an indication that the existing defense cooperation between the two countries has deepened.
Strengthening Strategic Partnership
Following the agreement, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias emphasized that the cooperation between France and Greece is a sincere relationship based on shared values. Referring to the strategic defense partnership signed in 2021, Dendias said that France has always prioritized Greece’s security and taken into account the country’s need to maintain its technological superiority. These statements clearly demonstrate the importance France attaches to Greece’s regional security concerns and the trust-based cooperation between the two countries.
After being greeted at the Defense Ministry in Athens, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu held a one-on-one meeting with his Greek counterpart Dendias. The two ministers exchanged detailed views on bilateral relations as well as the procurement of Exocet missiles. At noon, Lecornu was received at the Maximos Palace by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who conveyed the message that defense cooperation was supported at the highest level.
New Areas of Cooperation and Frigate Procurement on the Agenda
According to the Defense Review, new developments are likely to occur in the defense cooperation between France and Greece. In this context, the Belharra class, which is being built in France, The third frigate “F-601 Kimon” is expected to be delivered to Greece soon. Ayrıca, Procurement of a fourth Belharra frigate and this ship Equipped with SCALP cruise missiles also holds an important place in the talks between the two countries. These potential collaborations can be considered as concrete steps towards Greece's goal of significantly increasing its naval power.
Technical Specifications of Exocet MM-40 Block 3C Missile
Greece will supply Exocet MM-40 Block 3C The anti-ship missile is produced by the French defense industry giant MBDA. Approx. Weighing 780 kilograms ve Less than 6 meters long This missile, which has advanced technical features, draws attention. Thanks to its new navigation package, increased accuracy Offered by Exocet MM-40B3C, at very low altitude (sea-skimming) flight ability, Optimized 3D approach trajectories and from different angles terminal attacks provides the opportunity to realize it.
The missile is designed to distinguish and select targets at sea. an advanced J-band active seeker while having, for ground targets GPS accuracy can work depending on. Range of over 200 kilometers The Exocet MM-40B3C, which has subsonic In addition to flying at high speed, it has also been significantly improved compared to previous models with its advanced seeker head. These features have the potential to significantly strengthen Greece's maritime defense capabilities.
