France agreed to provide six high-tech vessels to Greece by 2026 in a deal worth $5 billion earlier this week. While the agreement falls well short of the $90 billion lost when Australia opted for US nuclear submarines over French technology earlier this month, it represents an important symbolic victory highlighting diplomatic solidarity and defense consolidation on the continent.

Analysis

The deal will provide the Hellenic Navy with six vessels – three Belharra frigates (also known as Fregate de Defense et d’Intervention or FDI) and three Gowind corvettes – to be delivered between 2024-2026. The deal provides for one additional frigate in the future should Athens wish to opt in. It comes close on the heels of another significant France-Greece defense contract: a $2.8 billion order for 18 Rafale fighter jets, to be produced by Dassault, agreed upon in January of this year. The Rafale deal was the first major procurement deal to be signed by Athens since the Greek sovereign debt crisis.

All of the above equipment is cutting-edge, reflecting a desire on the part of Athens to upgrade its naval and air defense capacity. Specifically, the acquisitions will combine to provide Athens with a hypothetical air power edge over its regional rival across the Aegean Sea: Turkey. The Belharra frigates come equipped with a Thales-produced Sea Fire radar system, which is designed to defend against drones, ballistic missiles, and any saturation-based attack.