Navy: The frigate “Hydra” returns to the Red Sea for the Operation ” Shields”

In the early days of 2025, “Hydra” is expected to solve lines from Salamis Naval Station and set sail for the second time towards the Gulf and the Gulf of Aden, as part of Greece’s participation in the European operation ” Shields”. The frigate “Hydra” and its crew are already preparing for another three-month mission in the “hot” area of responsibility undertaken by Operation Shields in the Red Sea. Shortly before Christmas, according to the design of the Navy and the headquarters of the Operation ” Shields”, the frigate “Spetsi” is to return, which has been operating in the area since the beginning of October. TYPE OFFICE GEN / EUROKINISS It had preceded a three-month mission of the frigate “Psara”, which in turn had replaced “HYDRA”. It is estimated that each frigate from its launch to the Red Sea to its return to Salamis Naval Station has covered about 20,000 miles. Overall, all three ships will have “written” 60,000 miles, attempting in a high risk area. In some cases, the Greek frigates were threatened by the Huthi drones and were forced to fire with the 5-inch gun. TYPE OFFICE GEN / EUROKINISS The frigate “Psara”, in fact, shot down an UAV which moved towards the ship of our Fleet. However, the “made in Greece” electronic warfare and intervention system “Kentauros” was a reference point, as it showed that it has high efficiency and reliability in the treatment of drones, even over long distances. “They write” 60,000 miles Over time and its use in real conditions, the “Kentaurus” system was upgraded and is now an integral part of the defence of the Frigates MEKOs operating in the Red Sea. It has already been decided to place it in all four Hydra-class frigates as part of their expected modernisation. TYPE OFFICE GEN / EUROKINISS And only the fact that in just nine months, during which the three MEOs take part in the Operation “Spaces”, they have traveled 60,000 miles in full operational conditions with all their systems continuously in operation, shows the need to modernise them. Up to the receipt and operational integration of the new French frigates Belharra, they will be the most powerful units of the Fleet, which are invited to undertake all kinds of missions, let alone in high risk areas. But then, they are expected to play a key role, as the Navy cannot give new powerful ships all missions, let alone routine missions, such as participation in UN UN UN UN UN UNIFIL off Lebanon and EU Operation Irini near the Libyan coast. TYPE OFFICE GEN / EUROKINISS Every MEKO frigate “writes” even 50,000 miles each year, while during the crisis in 2020 the ships remained most days of the year at sea, away from the Shipyard. The strain and wear on all ship systems, especially in engineering, is continuous, given that these are units operating in difficult seas and have already reached 30 years of service in the Fleet. With these data, their modernisation is not just a ‘must’ program, but every day that passes is translated into lost time. The civil leadership of the Ministry of National Defence is expected to address the ship and business world to support the effort to modernise the Fleet. Source: OnAlert.gr – Reportage: Kostas Sarikas