Greek frigate Psara

For other ships with the same name, see Greek ship Psara.
Psara (F-454) (Φ/Γ Ψαρά (F-454)
History
Greece
Namesakethe Psara Island
BuilderHellenic Shipyards Co.
LaunchedDecember 20, 1994
Commissioned1998
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typeHydra-class frigate
Displacement3,350 tons
Length117 m (383.9 ft)
Beam14.8 m (48.6 ft)
Draft6 m (19.7 ft)
Propulsion
Speed31 knots (57 km/h) maximum
Range4,100 nmi (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h) (diesels)
Complement173
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Signaal MW08 air search radar
  • Signaal DA08 air surface radar
  • 2 Signaal STIR fire control radar
  • Racal Decca 2690 BT navigation radar
  • Raytheon SQS-56/DE 1160 hull-mounted and VDS sonar
  • SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy
  • Mk XII Mod 4 IFF radar
  • 2 Signaal Mk 73 Mod 1 radar for ESSM
  • Signaal STACOS Mod 2 combat data system
  • SAR-8 IR searcher
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Argo AR 700 ESM system
  • Telegon 10 ESM system
  • Argo APECS II ECM system
  • 4 SCLAR decoy launchers
  • Centaur C-UAS system[1]
Armament
Aircraft carried1
Aviation facilitiesHangar for 1 Sikorsky S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk helicopter

The Greek frigate Psara (F-454) (Greek: Φ/Γ Ψαρά) is the third ship of the Greek Hydra-class frigates. It is based on the Blohm + Voss MEKO 200 frigate class and was built by Hellenic Shipyards Co. at Skaramangas as part of the programme. She has participated in various NATO and international operations such as Sharp Guard, Decisive Enhancement, Operation Enduring Freedom, EU Operation Atalanta.

On 29 March 2009, as flagship of EU NAVFOR Atalanta, Psara was involved in the capture of Somalian pirates fleeing from an unsuccessful hijack attempt on the German tanker Spessart, along with HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën, the Spanish frigate Victoria and USS Boxer.[2]

On 19 June 2024, in response to the Red Sea crisis, Psara was deployed to the Red Sea to protect shipping from Houthi attacks as part of the European Union's Operation Aspides. The ship was equipped with new electronic warfare and anti-drone systems for the mission.[3]

On July 7, 2024 in the Gulf of Aden, HS PSARA, while providing close protection to a merchant vessel, engaged 4 UAVs which were posing a significant threat to the freedom of navigation. As a result, 2 UAVs were downed, while the rest of them changed their course.[4]

  1. ^ Thomas Newdick (9 July 2024). "Greek Warship Guns-Down Houthi Drone In New Video". The War Zone. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Hellenic Navy Press release". Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  3. ^ Συντακτική ομάδα ertnews.gr (2024-06-19). "Η φρεγάτα «Ψαρά» εντάσσεται στην επιχείρηση της ΕΕ «Aspides»". ertnews.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  4. ^ "Πρώτο "soft kill" για το σύστημα αντι-drone της ΕΑΒ". Δούρειος Ίππος. 2024-07-07. Retrieved 2024-07-08.