LONDON (ANA-MPA/ I. Karipidis) A series of important arms programs that are included in Greece’s Long-Term Defence Armaments Planning and are part of the “Agenda 2030” are to be submitted to Parliament’s Special Standing Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts on Monday, so that it may give its opinion, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced while visiting London.
According to Dendias, the crux of these programs is the “huge upgrade” of Greece’s air defenses through the creation of a multi-level mechanism for dealing with threats from the air. This forms the core of the new deterrent program “Achilles’ Shield’, whose aim is to form a “protective dome” over Greek territory, capable of handling aircraft, unmanned drones and rockets.
The minister also highlighted the fact that Greek companies are participating in the production of these systems, with a percentage participation of at least 25%.
Among the programs submitted for discussion is the construction of the necessary infrastructure at the Andravida air base for the operational induction of the F-35 aircraft. Dendias stressed that these planes were “not simply aircraft but platforms that usher the Hellenic Air Force into a new era.” In addition, there is provision for the upgrade of roughly 40 F-16 Block fighter aircraft to Viper class, so that Greece will have more than 100 aircraft of this type.
The list of programs also includes the modernization of the MEKO frigates, with the participation of Greek shipyards and a series of Follow On Support contracts for aircraft, including the C-27 transport planes.
Dendias underlined that all maintenance and support contracts are now treated like armaments programmes, with the full set of transparency guarantees and briefing of Parliament, as opposed to the previously highly opaque system that classed them as operational expenses.
The minister said that the specific programs indicate the country’s timely adjustment to a new security environment, while their implementation will lead the Greek armed forces “to a new era” and make them stronger than they have ever been.
Dendias explained that his visit to the United Kingdom – which had been postponed the previous seek due to the visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Cyprus and Souda – prevented him from presenting the programs to the Parliamentary Committee in person. He said this would be undertaken by Deputy Defense Minister Thanasis Davakis, with the assistance of the armed forces’ chiefs, to provide clarifications for the MPs.
During his visit to London, Dendias is scheduled to meet UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell on Monday and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healy on Tuesday. Developments in the Gulf region and security challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean are expected to be discussed at the meetings.
A Greek defense ministry announcement noted that the visit is part of the ongoing effort to strengthen bilateral relations in defense, security and innovation and to exchange knowhow and experiences in areas of common interest.
source ANA-MPA