Hellenic Air Force Receives Its First Two M-346 Jet Trainers
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) received its first two M-346 Block 5+ jet trainers produced by Leonardo Aircraft Division (LAD) on Tuesday, April 16, at a ceremony conducted at the International Pilot Training Center at Kalamata Air Base, according to the Greek Ministry of Defense. The ceremony was attended by Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros, the Chief of General Staff of the Hellenic Air Force, Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias, and representatives from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Israeli Air Force, and Elbit Systems.
The delivery of the aircraft in question took place under a $1.65 billion (approx. €1.375 billion) intergovernmental agreement signed between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Greek Ministry of National Defense, under which Elbit Systems agreed to establish and operate an International Flight Training Center at 120 ATW Kalamata. The agreement, which will be valid for about 20 years, includes full maintenance support for Elbit Systems’ 25 T-6A trainers in the Hellenic Air Force’s inventory, as well as the lease of ten M-346 aircraft to replace the obsolete T-2B/C aircraft. Additionally, the company will deliver networked flight simulators, a variety of ground-based training stations (GBTS), its latest advanced Embedded Virtual Avionics (EVA) onboard the training aircraft, as well as command and control systems to enable effective management of the flight training operation.
In his speech at the ceremony, Greek Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikos Panagiotopoulos said: “the new International Flight Training Center is the result of many efforts by the Greek State, the Ministry of National Defense, in order to achieve the best possible solution for the training of new pilots of the Greek Air Force. The Israeli side and Elbit Systems offered the most adaptable and understandable approach in the field of flight training. Our ambition is that the International Flight Training Center will provide basic, advanced and operational flight training to all airmen and over a period of 22 years using T-6 and M-346 aircraft.” Panagiotopoulos added, “the most important thing is that this will bring revenue to the Greek Air Force and international prestige to the training center since the International Flight Training Center is indeed the biggest agreement and the most strategic project in the field of defense cooperation between Greece and Israel to date.”
Elbit Systems Aerospace General Manager Yoram Shmuely said in his speech, “we are proud to provide the Hellenic Airforce with leading training centers and capabilities. The landing of the first two planes at the International Training Center in Kalamata is a significant milestone for not only Elbit Systems, but for the growing strategic relationship between Israel and Greece.”
The M-346 is a twin-engine, tandem-seat jet trainer with entirely digital flight controls and avionics produced by Leonardo that will aid the Hellenic Air Force and Greek pilots in their preparations for the F-16 Viper, Rafale, and F-35 era. The M-346, which is currently in service with the air forces of Italy, Singapore, Israel, Poland, and Qatar, is equipped with a fly-by-wire control system and has an interface with Head-Up Displays (HUD). The training systems include integrated on-board technology that simulates tactical training, as well as a Ground Based Training System that optimizes fleet and simulator management.