Italy and Greece have signed an Implementing Arrangement paving the way for the transfer of two FREMM frigates currently serving with the Italian Navy to the Hellenic Navy.
The agreement, signed in Rome on September 8, 2026, covers the transfer of the frigates Carlo Bergamini and Virginio Fasan through Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
The arrangement was signed between the General Directorate of Defense Investments and Armaments (GDDIA) of the Greek Ministry of National Defence and the Italian General Directorate for Armaments. The signing took place in the presence of Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias and the chiefs of the Italian and Hellenic navies, Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto and Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras.
Fincantieri was represented at the ceremony by Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Pierroberto Folgiero and Eugenio Santagata, General Manager of the company's Naval Vessels Division.
The Implementing Arrangement follows a Memorandum of Cooperation and a Declaration of Intent signed by Italy and Greece in September 2025, advancing the process for the acquisition of the two Italian Navy vessels by Greece.
Under the agreement, Fincantieri will play a central role in the transfer process and provide support for the vessels throughout their lifecycle. The arrangement also establishes the framework for initial and long-term support activities aimed at maintaining the ships' operational readiness.
In addition, the agreement includes the involvement of Greek industry in maintenance work and the integration of new systems aboard the frigates, opening the way for broader industrial cooperation between the two countries.
The vessels Carlo Bergamini and Virginio Fasan were designed and built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy as part of the FREMM, or European Multi-Mission Frigate, program. The platform has been developed for a range of naval missions and is designed to offer flexibility and adaptability for different operational requirements.
“The progress of the transfer process also creates new opportunities for industrial synergies between Fincantieri and the Greek industrial ecosystem, generating benefits across the supply chain," Folgiero said.
"The introduction of the FREMM frigates into the Hellenic Navy represents a first step towards broader integration of expertise, technologies and industrial capabilities among countries operating the platform, fostering knowledge sharing and supporting development of further technological advancements”.
For Fincantieri, the transaction also represents an opportunity to expand its cooperation with Greece and pursue further industrial and naval opportunities in the country.