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The Hydra class[1][2] are a group of four frigates in service with the Hellenic Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case the MEKO 200 design. The programme was authorised in 1988 and partially paid for with FMS aid and provisioned for the commission of six vessels. The first ship was built in Germany and commissioned in 1992 but suffered a serious fire while working up near Portland, England. Repairs were completed in 1993. The Greek built warships were delayed due to financial problems on the part of the Hellenic Shipyards completing in the late 1990s which also led to limiting the total number of vessels to four mainly after the acquisition of eight Kortenaer-class frigates from the Netherlands in the late 1990s.
 HS Spetsai transits the Mediterranean Sea during Phoenix Express (2008) | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hydra, MEKO 200 HN |
| Builders | Blohm + Voss, Hellenic Shipyards |
| Operators |  Hellenic Navy |
| In commission | 1992–present |
| Planned | 6 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Cancelled | 2 |
| Active | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Frigate |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 117.5 m (385 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 14.8 m (48 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 6.0 m (19 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 4,100 nmi (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement |
|
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | |
| Armament |
|
| Aviation facilities | Hangar for 1 Sikorsky S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk helicopter |
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In 2007, an upgrade of the STIR fire control system to allow the firing of the RIM-162 ESSM surface-to-air missile was launched. Salamis was the first to be upgraded and, in August 2008, successfully completed a live firing test. The other three Hydra vessels were upgraded during 2008.
On April 25, 2018 the Greek defense minister Panos Kammenos announced that the modernization of the four vessels is in progress but without presenting any further details about the program.[3]
In May 2019, the Joint Chiefs of General Staff Council (ΣΑΓΕ) decided the commencement of the modernization program for the four ships of the class.[4] The program was finally approved by the Greek Parliament in April 2023.[5]
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| Ship | Namesake | Builder | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-452 Hydra Ύδρα | Hydra | Blohm + Voss | November 12, 1992 | In service |
| F-453 Spetsai Σπέτσαι | Spetses | Hellenic Shipyards | October 24, 1996 | In service |
| F-454 Psara Ψαρά | Psara | Hellenic Shipyards | April 30, 1998 | In service |
| F-455 Salamis Σαλαμίς | Salamis | Hellenic Shipyards | December 16, 1998 | In service |
- List of naval ship classes in service
- Vasco da Gama-class frigate - built for Portugal
- Anzac-class frigate - built for Australia and New Zealand
- Barbaros-class frigate - Built for the Turkish Navy
- Valour-class frigate - MEKO A-200 frigates built for the South African Navy
HS Spetsai transits alongside the Military Sealift Command container and roll-on-roll-off ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat
HS Psara
HS Salamis
A view from USS Seattle, showing HS Psara underway conducting a replenishment at sea in 2002
HS Hydra in 2022
_transits_alongside_the_Military_Sealift_Command_container_and_roll-on-roll-off_ship_USNS_LCPL_Roy_M._Wheat_(T-AK_3016).jpg)
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_underway_the_Ionian_Sea_on_17_March_2022_(220317-N-DH793-2889).JPG)
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