![\"\"](\"https:\/\/maritimes.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/263e43a2bfd917028bf5929dc598b456.jpg\" "\\"The")
\nThe United States has proposed that Greece purchase four American-made frigates, offering in return the co-production of three vessels in the country, Defense News reports.<\/p>\n
The leading defense publication says that should Greece decide to buy frigates from the United States, the US government is proposing that three of them be co-produced by American-owned Onex Shipyards, based on the Greek island of Syros.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think the United States is going to have a very competitive product to offer there with our frigates and the unique American proposal to co-produce three of those frigates here in Greece,\u201d Geoffrey Pyatt, the US Ambassador to Greece, was quoted as saying during a panel discussion hosted during the Association of the US Army\u2019s annual conference.<\/p>\n
It is not clear what type of frigates Pyatt was referring to. Defense News says that there are three possibilities: <\/p>\n
First, the Lockheed Martin\u2019s Multi-Mission Surface Combatant, being built at Fincantieri\u2019s Marinette Marine shipyard. The four-ship, $1.96 billion MMSC contract with buyer Saudi Arabia was awarded in December.<\/p>\n
Secondly, the refurbishment of four of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, which are currently mothballed.<\/p>\n
Thirdly, but less likely, the recently-launched new frigate design with Fincantieri\u2019s FREMM.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Navy declined to discuss any pending sale.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Navy does not comment on pre-decisional discussions with foreign governments,\u201d the statement said. \u201cAny formal US Government offer in the context of the Foreign Military Sales program will comply with congressional notification requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n
In September, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented an economic plan that called for a handful of weapons buys, including the purchase of four frigates, 18 Rafale fighter jets made by France\u2019s Dassault \u2014 a combination of new and used planes \u2014 and four MH-60R helicopters from Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky.<\/p>\n
The country also plans to refurbish four MEKO frigates, as well as procure torpedoes and antitank weapons.<\/p>\n
Pyatt said the United States paid \u201cspecial attention\u201d to the announcement and is eager to offer American defense products to the Greek military.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur industry is here for the long haul and is looking now to work with the Greek government as the Prime Minister seeks to modernize Greece\u2019s defense capabilities,\u201d he said according to Defense News.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/greece.greekreporter.com\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The United States has proposed that Greece purchase four American-made frigates, offering in return the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":187101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[297],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-187103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy-english"],"yoast_head":"\n