OCCAR meets Greece’s defence procurement directorate at EURONAVAL on possible Greek participation in the European corvette

The possibility of Greece joining later phases of the European patrol corvette programme MMPC (Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette) remains open. The subject was discussed at the EURONAVAL exhibition in Paris on Wednesday, November 4, between the leadership of the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), which manages the programme, and a Greek delegation headed by the Director General for Defence Investments and Armaments. OCCAR itself announced the meeting in a LinkedIn post.

Who met

On the organisation’s side were Joachim Sucker, director of the OCCAR Executive Administration (OCCAR-EA), and Andrea Millerani Trapani, director of the MMPC programme. The Greek delegation consisted of Brigadier General Ioannis Bouras, Director General of the Directorate General for Defence Investments and Armaments (DGDIA), Captain Dimitrios Filiagkos, Greece’s representative on the MMPC Programme Board, and Captain Aristidis Kalfoutzos, director of Defence Programmes.

OCCAR says the two sides exchanged views on the programme’s next milestones and examined possible ways for future Greek participation. The discussions took place, it notes, in a positive and constructive atmosphere and showed that both sides wish to continue close cooperation and keep options open for Greece in the programme’s long-term course.

The organisation adds that the meeting highlighted the importance of continuous dialogue with its member states and with the countries taking part in its programmes, so that multinational defence cooperation works effectively and common capabilities are developed.

From the PESCO EPC to the MMPC

The MMPC is the evolution of the idea of a common European Patrol Corvette (EPC), a modular warship that would meet different national requirements on the basis of a common design. Greece has taken part in the venture from the beginning: together with Italy, France and Spain it took part in the PESCO EPC project, while Denmark and Norway were among its co-founders. On December 9, 2021, Fincantieri, Naval Group and Navantia, with the Naviris joint venture as coordinator, had submitted a joint industrial proposal for the Euro-corvette; see our report on the MMPC proposal, with the participation of about 40 systems and equipment companies.

OCCAR’s wording about “future phases” indicates that possible Greek participation concerns the programme’s next stages and not the current one. The issue is linked to the discussion on how Greek shipbuilding industry can be used in European programmes.

The meeting took place at the same exhibition where Naval Group signed ten contracts with Greek companies for the FDI frigates, at a EURONAVAL with a strong Greek presence.