Elbit Systems Signs $1.65 Billion Deal With Greek Air Force
This marks the official consummation of an agreement made back in January.
Aermacchi M-346 (Wikipedia)
Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems Ltd. has officially been awarded a contract valued at approximately $1.65 billion (approximately €1.375 billion) for the establishment and operation of the International Flight Training Center of the Hellenic Air Force – The Greek Air force. This marks the official consummation of an agreement made back in January between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense which included the Elbit deal.
The Elbit Systems contract will be performed over a period of approximately 20 years and will include price indexation.
Under the contract, Elbit Systems will supply new M-346 training aircraft and will maintain the entire training fleet, comprised of dozens of M-346 and T-6 training aircraft for a period of approximately 20 years. In addition, the Company will provide its latest advanced Embedded Virtual Avionics (EVA) onboard the training aircraft, deliver networked flight simulators and an array of Ground-Based Training Stations (GBTS) as well as a command and control systems to enable efficient management of the flight training operation.
The Aermacchi M-346 Master is a family of military twin-engine transonic advanced jet trainers and light combat aircraft produced by Italian manufacturer Leonardo SPA, formerly Alenia Aermacchi. It first flew in 2004. The plane is currently operated by the air forces of Italy, Israel, Singapore, and Poland.
Leonardo boasts that the Aermacchi M-346 is the most advanced jet trainer and that it has been designed for a wide range of training capabilities, long-term reliability and cost-effective operations. Central element of a technologically advanced Integrated Training System, the M-346 is the most modern solution to train new generation pilots.
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The twin-engine, tandem-seat M-346 has four channel Fly-By-Wire Flight Control System, redundant main systems, state-of-the-art avionics with latest human-machine interface with Multi-Function Displays (MFD), Head-Up Displays (HUD), Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) controls, in-flight safety features like PARS (Pilot Activated Attitude Recovery System). An APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) provides autonomous operations.
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Announcing $1.65Bn contract for Flight Training Program of the @HAFspokesman. 🇬🇷
📷: Minister of National Defence Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos and Yoram Shmuely GM Elbit Systems’ Aerospace right after the signing ceremony. https://t.co/aH7Ewjl9bc@Hellenic_MOD @Israel_MOD pic.twitter.com/shhHEDNwUR— Elbit Systems (@ElbitSystemsLtd) April 18, 2021
Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, said: “We are honored to have been awarded this contract to provide such an important capability to the Hellenic Air Force. This contract award attests to the leading position we hold in the area of pilot’s training solutions, providing tested know-how and proven technologies that improve operational readiness while reducing costs.”
Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (“C4ISR”), unmanned aircraft systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence systems, data links and communications systems, radios, cyber-based systems and munitions. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems.
Read more about: Elbit systems, Hellenic Air Force
