The Greek journalist Kostas Sarikas reports on the portal Onealert.grthat the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is planning to expand the fleet of the International Air Training Center in Kalamata by four more Leonardo M-346 training aircraft. According to Sarikas, the HAF is extremely pleased with the decision to replace its T-2 Buckeye with the M-346.
The reason for the increase is the continuing high level of interest from foreign air forces in sending their pilots for training at the 120th Air Training Wing (ICRC) in Kalamata, according to the report. Since the “turning point” caused by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine (-> current news from the Ukraine war), the demand for multi-phase training programs for fighter pilots has literally “exploded”. The existing training centers in Europe and the USA are therefore unable to adequately meet this demand. In addition, the geographical location of Greece, in particular Kalamatas on the Peloponnese – at the interface between Europe, Africa and the Middle East – together with the predominantly favorable weather, offers considerable advantages.
As the ten M-346 Block 5+ training aircraft, which have been in service since May 2023 as part of the agreement between HAF and the Israeli company Elbit as general contractor (Leonardo is “only” acting as a supplier here) (the eighth aircraft is due to arrive soon, the remaining two in May), apparently only cover Greece’s own requirements, the air force staff is preparing to procure additional aircraft. The first two German Air Force flight students (-> current news about the German Armed Forces) will arrive in Kalamata, followed by pilot trainees from Croatia. Both Greece and Germany are about to introduce the F-35 from Lockheed Martinwhile the Croatians have replaced their MiG-21s with French Rafale (-> First Rafale arrive in Croatia) – a type that is also in service with the HAF.
From next year, 16 young German pilots are to be sent to Kalamata each year for a two-year training course, initially on Beechcraft T-6 Texan II turboprop trainers. The number of Croatian flight students has not yet been determined. According to the report, other countries from Europe, Africa and the Middle East have also expressed great interest in training in Kalamata.
The Greek Air Force Staff plans to expand the agreement with Elbit from April 18, 2021 – originally worth around 1.375 billion euros, including the facility, the T-6-II trainers and 20 years of operation – by at least four additional M-346 aircraft. The costs of this expansion are to be amortized in the long term, in particular through further training contracts with foreign pilots.
The calculation is based on the fact that the host nations pay around 2.5 million euros for the two-year transformative training of a student pilot to become an operational type. This represents a significant source of income for the HAF. The aim is to gradually make the International Training Center Kalamata (ICRC) self-supporting, so that the HAF funds raised to date for the 120th Wing can be used for other areas in the future.
As instructors from the 362nd Air Training Squadron “Nestor” in Kalamata emphasize to Onealert.gr, the advanced advanced trainer M-346 combines modern simulation functions on the ground and in the air with impressive performance data. For example, the “FA” version only (-> Austria opts for M-346FA) can be simulated. With speeds of up to Mach 0.95 and load multiples of +8/-3G, the aircraft comes very close to operational models such as the F-16 Viper or the Rafale.
In addition, the weapon computer is programmable and supports almost all weapon and external loads used by the Greek Air Force’s operational aircraft – including the F-35, which will enter service in the future. Less relevant for training, but still remarkable: according to Greek data, the practical range of the M-346 is around 1,950 kilometers with internal fuel and 2,550 kilometers with additional tanks.
