Hellenic Navy Gets Game-Changer Vessel

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The Hellenic Navy will acquire eight Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) frigates from Lockheed Martin. The company said that the ships could be produced in Greece.

MMSC is a variant of the U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). LCS is equipped with Aegis-derived Combat Management System, Cyber-hardened defenses, and engineering and propulsion control systems.

These warships are interoperable with MH-60R helicopters and modernized MEKO-class frigates.

“If a Navy needs more anti-air or anti-submarine capabilities, the ship’s design can be modified to meet those needs. It can truly be a custom ship for the Hellenic Navy. MMSC is capable of carrying weapons that will be a true game-changer for Greece. The U.S. Navy has already invested in significant capabilities for its fleet, and the Hellenic Navy will benefit from a variety of weapon systems and sensors already integrated into MMSC,” the company’s statement read.

The MMSC is based on the U.S. Navy’s Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship’s 118 meter hull, and will utilize the same combined diesel and gas propulsion system. The vessel has a range of 5,000 nautical miles and can reach speeds in excess of 30 knots (34.5 mph). 

It utilizes the COMBATSS-21 Combat Management System, built from the Aegis Combat System Software library.  

The MMSC integrated combat system solution leverages the domestic LCS integration of the 57mm Mk110 deck gun and SeaRAM, and expands multi-mission capability through integration of Over-The-Horizon surface-to-surface missiles, port and starboard 20 mm remote guns, a new fire control radar and a forward centerline 8 cell MK 41 Vertical Launch System equipped with RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles. 

The MMSC is also equipped with the AN/SLQ-25 Torpedo Defense system, according to defenseworld.net.