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• EUR400 million cap has been set on planned Hydra-class frigate modernisation
• Upgrade work will address key sustainability and capability priorities

The Hellenic Navy is progressing plans to move forward with the mid-life upgrade of its four MEKO 200HN Hydra-class frigates, but has acknowledged the scope of work will be constrained by a EUR400 million (USD457 million) budget cap on the programme.

Speaking at the IQPC Surface Warships 2015 conference in Genoa on 28 January, Commodore Nikolaos Kafetsis, head of the armaments directorate in the Hellenic Navy General Staff, said the navy was planning a mid-life modernisation (MLM) to extend the life of its Hydra-class vessels out to at least 2035.

The first of two Algerian Navy Meko A200 frigates has been undocked and floated at a dockyard in Kiel, Germany.
The vessel was floated during a ceremony on December 5, reports IHS Jane's Navy International.
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) received the 2.17 billion euro ($2.7 billion) contract for the two frigates, plus an option for two more, in March 2012. Because TKMS does not have large docks of its own, the vessels are being built in Kiel as part of a consortium.
Algeria has also ordered six AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 (Mk 140) helicopters, plus a support and training package for the frigates. One of the Super Lynx was spotted in October carrying eight Denel Dynamics Mokopa air-to-surface missiles ahead of delivery. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) noted that in 2012 Algeria selected Denel Dynamics’ Umkhonto-IR surface-to-air missile for its frigates, which also arm the South African Navy’s Meko vessels.
According to Russia’s Periscope magazine, the Algerian frigates will be armed with RBS 15 Mk III anti-ship missiles, Umkhonto IR surface-to-air missiles, Oto Melara and Rheinmetall guns and MU 90 torpedoes.