Image credit: Ekathimerini.com
Retrieved from: https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1239504/greek-and-polish-leaders-urge-eu-for-common-air-defense-shield/
Image credit: Ekathimerini.com
Retrieved from: https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1239027/greek-parliament-to-ratify-us-letter-of-acceptance-for-f-35-procurement/
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May 30, 2024 - New Information Unveiled on The Greek MEKO 200 Frigate Upgrade Program - On May 23, 2024, at CNE 2024, a Navy Leaders Conference, Commodore Panagiotis Karavas, Deputy Director of the Armaments Directorate for the Hellenic Navy (HN), revealed new details for the imminent modernization of the Hellenic Navy’s surface fleet. Naval News attended his briefing and described the six objectives of the Fleet’s renewal: FDI Frigates, Corvettes, Constellation-class frigates, Hydra (MEKO 200 HN) upgrade program, fast attack missile craft (FACM), patrol boats, and special operations craft (SOC). In this article, we will delve into the upgrade program for the MEKO frigates..Read more
May 26, 2024 - Hellenic Navy Reveals Its Surface Fleet Modernization Plan - On May 23, 2024, at CNE 2024, a Navy Leaders Conference, Commodore Panagiotis Karavas, Deputy Director of the Armaments Directorate for the Hellenic Navy (HN), revealed new details for the imminent modernization of the Hellenic Navy’s surface fleet at the Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2024, in Farnborough, UK. Note that the Greek Commodore was, until recently, the surface program director, so he was very closely involved in the Greek surface fleet programs. Read more
May 2024 - Greece sells F-4E, F-16 Block 30, Mirage 2000-5 and purchase F-35 Block 4 and more Rafale - The Greek government is moving to develop a new innovation hub for the defence sector, part of a multibillion-euro defence modernization program that will support the country’s growing geostrategic role in the region. The new R&D hub − the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation − will partner with private companies with the aim of developing a defence innovation ecosystem; both for the benefit of the Greek armed forces and for the country overall. The Ministry of Defence will also establish a new information technology corps to upgrade Greece’s defences against cyber threats. Read more
May 23, 2024 - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Polish counterpart Donald Tusk have called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to spearhead the creation of a European air defence shield financed by the European Union. According to Bloomberg, in a letter sent Thursday, the leaders argued that the EU needs a new “flagship program” like a common air defence shield. Von der Leyen endorsed the proposal on social media, reiterating her call for more unified defence initiatives. The letter, not yet public, suggests discussing the initiative at the EU summit in late June. Read more
May 19, 2024 - Equipping Special Forces with drones a top priority - Pretty soon, all Special Forces operators will have so-called “loitering munitions” in their backpacks. Ministry of Defence officials are at an advanced stage of talks with their US counterparts to procure Switchblade systems. Also known colloquially, if not entirely accurately, as “suicide,” “kamikaze” or “exploding” drones, these systems are designed to “loiter” around a hidden target and home in once it is exposed. The older Switchblade 300 systems were introduced in 2011 and were widely publicized in the Ukraine war. The newer 600s, introduced in 2020, can pierce heavy armour. Defence Ministry officials envisage all enlisted personnel trained in the use of loitering munitions in the near future. Read more
May 17, 2024 - Gov’t to table F-35 letter of acceptance in Parliament - In the next 20 days the Greek Parliament will be called upon to ratify the US Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the supply of the F-35 fighter jets, Kathimerini understands. The ratification of the LOA by Parliament and the National Security Governmental Council (KYSEA) will be an important step for Greece towards participating in the F-35 program. When the US government receives the signed LOA, it will then proceed to sign a contract with Lockheed Martin and the rest of the manufacturing companies to produce the Greek F-35s. Afterwards, Athens will be informed about the timetable and the rest of the details. Read more
May 16, 2024 - Dendias rejects report on ‘secret’ arms transfers to Ukraine - Defence Minister Nikos Dendias dismissed a media report on Thursday claiming that Greece is secretly sending 250 containers of armaments to Ukraine. Greece has supplied Ukraine with guns and ammunition over the past two years but has clarified that if cannot send armaments crucial or its defence. Regarding artillery, Greece has already provided either directly or through sale to the Czech Republic both 155- and 203-mm calibre guns and a large number of projectiles. “There is no arms transfer to Ukraine,” he told New Left lawmaker Sia Anagnostopoulou during a debate in Parliament on a bill for the establishment of a Centre for Defence Innovation. Read more
May 15, 2024 - Greece mulls expansion of naval fleet says minister - Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has indicated that Greece considers further bolstering the Hellenic Navy by acquiring additional vessels. Speaking at a defence exhibition in Athens on Wednesday, Dendias expressed Greece’s ongoing interest in procuring a fourth Belharra-class frigate from France, along with an undisclosed number of corvettes. “The possibility remains under consideration,” he said. In 2021, Greece signed an agreement with France for the procurement of three Belharra frigates, with the option for a fourth additional vessel. Additionally, Dendias said that Greece will only accept the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) from the US as “free assistance” and strictly those vessels that have addressed their technical issues. Read more
May 15, 2024 - Minister of National Defence N. Dendias Attends DEFEA Conference 2024 Opening – Discussion Points with Journalist B. Nedos - On Wednesday, 15 May 2024, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended the opening of the DEFEA Conference 2024 at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre. Below are some points from this discussion:• The fact that our defence industry participates in our GDP with a percentage just exceeding 0.7% while our country spends over 3.5% for its defence is a fundamental economic inconsistency. I hope that we will be able to have a much greater contribution to GDP in the visible future. I am referring primarily to the role that the Defence Industry must play in the growth of Greek economy. Read more
May 13, 2024 - Greece Reportedly to Acquire Ten F4 Standard Rafale Fighters - Greece is reportedly planning to order ten F4 standard Rafale fighter jets. Greek authorities hold negotiations with the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. On May 10, 2024, the Greek portal Defence Review revealed that talks between the Greek authorities and the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation had reached an advanced stage; the discussions centre on acquiring up to ten aircraft designed to the forthcoming F4 specification. Dassault executives are likely to visit Athens in the coming weeks to negotiate. "The Hellenic Air Force General Staff has expressed the need to acquire 8 to 10 additional new aircraft to form another fighter squadron," the Defence Review stated. Read more