The Greek Air Force is modernizing its trainer capacities: around two years after ordering a total of ten Leonardo order for a total of ten Leonardo M-346 the first two of the modern jet trainers have now landed in Kalamata. There, the Israeli technology company Elbit-Systems is operating a new flight school for the Greek Air Force.

The aircraft were equipped by Elbit with integrated virtual avionics, which can be used to simulate a wide variety of combat and flight scenarios. The M-346 aircraft from Leonardo are expected to complete thousands of flight hours per year.

Since the launch of the International Flight Training Center in 2021, the project has been ahead of schedule, with the first training building recently completed and modern flight simulators as well as the ground, fleet control and communication systems to be installed in the first half of the year. Elbit will be able to draw on its experience gained with the Israeli Air Force: The company operates several training fleets for the IAF with Grob G-120s, Bell 206s, AW119 helicopters, Texan T-6A basic trainers and M-346s, as well as being contracted by the Israeli Ministry of Public Security to supply, operate and maintain Israel’s aerial firefighting fleet. In 2016, Affinity, a joint venture of Elbit Systems, was also contracted to procure, operate and maintain the UK MFTS Phenom 100, Beechcraft T-6 and Grob G-120TP fleets for the Royal Air Force. This brings the total number of aircraft operated by Elbit Systems to more than 170. Greece’s Minister of Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos: “The new International Flight Training Center is the result of numerous efforts of the Greek State and the Ministry of National Defense to achieve the best possible solution for the training of new pilots of the Hellenic Air Force. Our goal is for the International Flight Training Center to provide basic, advanced and operational flight training with T-6 and M-346 aircraft to all pilots over a period of 22 years. The flight training center is the largest agreement to date and the most strategic project in the field of defense cooperation between Greece and Israel.”

@Elbit
After the first two aircraft, eight more M-346s are to be added to the training fleet in Kalamata.

Yoram Shmuely, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace, added: “We are proud to provide the Hellenic Air Force with a leading training center and state-of-the-art capabilities. The landing of the first two aircraft is an important milestone not only for Elbit Systems, but also for the growing strategic relationship between Israel and Greece.”

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