Export success for Leonardo: After the Greek air force recently as reported for the purchase of twelve used and six new Rafále fighter jets from Dassault and is also interested in the F-35A stealth fighter, the Elleniki Polemiki Aeroporia is now also modernizing its trainer capacities.
Greece is working together with Israel as part of an “in-depth defense cooperation”: The Israeli technology company ELBIT-Systems will build a flight school for the Greek Air Force in Kalamata and operate it for 20 years from 2022/23. The Italian aerospace group and trainer specialist Leonardo will supply ten M-346 aircraft for this purpose. A detailed contract between the two governments worth – from today’s perspective – 1.375 billion euros is to be signed in the near future. The Greek government has already approved the largest procurement agreement between the two countries to date, following an international tender. ELBIT prevailed over the Canadian company CAE, whose bid was also based on the M-346 from Leonardo. The decisive factor for ELBIT is likely to have been the closer cooperation between Greece and Israel in recent years against the backdrop of Turkey’s ambitions.
The agreement is of course also good news for Leonardo and its plant in Venegono. After Singapore, Poland and 30 aircraft for Israel, another export customer for the M-346 jet trainer has now been secured. However, it is not yet clear whether Athens will buy the ten aircraft “classically” or whether they will be procured by ELBIT and then made available to the Greek armed forces. The type and number of simulators and an upgrade of the Greek basic trainer Beechcraft T-6C Texan-II with avionics from ELBIT-Systems, which is mentioned in the package, are also still being negotiated. An additional agreement between ELBIT and SIBAT, the Directorate for International Cooperation in the Israeli Ministry of Defense, is also required for implementation. There is no lack of experience with this model: ELBIT-Systems will also be training British military pilots on fixed-wing aircraft over the next 15 years via the joint venture company Affinity. The M-346s will presumably replace the remaining veteran Rockwell T-2E Buckeye aircraft of the 362nd and 363rd Squadrons at the 120th Air Training Combat Wing at Messinia/Kalamata Air Force Base, which have been in service since 1977. And as mentioned, in addition to the new jet trainers, the new school will also (co-)operate the Beechcraft T-6C turboprop trainers, which have been flying there since 2000 with the 361st Air Training Squadron. Incidentally, the robust and carrier-capable Buckeye have impressive parallels to the Saab-105Ö that has just been adopted in Austria (Militär Aktuell reported): They are almost the same age, there were also initially 40 of them – 30 physically survived in Kalamata, 28 in Hörsching – and both were the only operators apart from the country of manufacture. The only difference is that in Austria they (officially) want to manage without replacements.
Bezhalel “Butzi” Machlis, CEO of ELBIT, is delighted with the collaboration: “We are honored to have been selected to provide the Hellenic Air Force with such an important capability that we believe will contribute to further strengthening the bilateral relationship between Israel and Greece. This selection confirms the leading position we occupy in the field of training solutions, offering proven expertise and technologies that improve operational readiness – while reducing costs.” Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz: “This is a long-term partnership that will serve the interests of both Israel and Greece, create hundreds of jobs in both countries and promote stability in the Mediterranean. In the phone call I received after the agreement was approved, I thanked my friend, Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, for his personal support of this project. I also expressed my pleasure at the recent strengthening of defense relations between our countries and hope that they will continue to deepen.” SIBAT Director Brigadier General Yar Koulas: “The adoption of this agreement by the Greek government is truly a historic step towards further deepening the now excellent defense relations between our two countries. This is not just an export agreement on defense equipment, but a partnership that will last for at least 20 years. I would like to thank the Greek Minister of Defense for the confidence he has shown in our excellent defense industry. I would also like to thank the “Lavi” (Israeli name for the M-346), with which we are very satisfied in our academy.”
Interesting fact: Leonardo himself recently celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony for his training center in Sardinia together with the Italian Air Force (Militär Aktuell reported). Now another location is being added for the same segment, which – as ELBIT has already indicated – also advertises with consistently good flying weather.
Update April 23, 2021: The contract has now been signed (report) and is therefore officially confirmed.
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