The Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos attended the inauguration of the new accommodation programme of the Hellenic Air Force “Hellenic Wings Inns” which was held at the 120 Air Training Wing, Kalamata, on Friday 11 June 2021.
The ceremony was also attended by the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis, the MPs of the Messenia Constituency Mr Giannis Lambropoulos, Periklis Mantas and Miltos Chrysomallis, the Deputy Regional Governor competent for the Messenia prefecture Mr Stathis Anastasopoulos, the Mayor of Kalamata Mr Athanasios Vasilopoulos and the Metropolitan Bishop of Messenia Chrysostomos.
The “Hellenic Wings Inns” lodgings of the personnel at the 120 Air Training Wing, in Kalamata, were renovated in order to be used by the military personnel of the Hellenic Air Force, who may spend a few days’ vacations with their families. There are fifteen fully equipped rooms for the accommodation of four persons for up to seven nights. The tenants will be able to use the facilities of the Unit, such as the mess, the parking lots etc.
In his address, the Minister of National Defence underlined the following:
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
The great effort we are making in order to enhance the capabilities of the Armed Forces is mainly focused on two principal axes; it does not only include the weapon systems: we have moved on and we are planning to continue with the acquisition of modern deterrence Weapon Systems, as well as to adequately support and maintain what we already have at our disposal, which are also fully operational weapon systems. The second axis regards the Personnel, because even if the best fighter aircraft is acquired, the most modern with the highest possible capabilities in its weapon systems and is integrated into the capabilities of the Hellenic Air Force, without the existence of a fully trained personnel supported by adequate modern infrastructure, then the project winds up lacking.
The issue is that the Personnel as much as the Systems must enjoy the unreserved succour and support of the State, mainly through the Political Leadership of the Ministry of National Defence. Consequently, today is a day of particular significance, because I am particularly happy to attend the inauguration of the accommodation programme titled “Hellenic Wings Inns”.
Remaining constantly focused on the goal of enhancing the Armed Forces capabilities, pertaining of course to the safeguarding and reinforcement of the National Defence, we have undertaken a series of initiatives so as to further improve the level of their operational capabilities. This, of course, must be the final goal as well as the level of provided training, but also the Welfare of the Armed Forces Personnel.
So, in this context, this programme constitutes an exceptional concrete example for the constant Welfare provided by the Air Force to its Personnel, which constitutes the major force multiplier and the most substantial imprint of the overall deterrent force of the Armed Forces. The “Hellenic Wings Inns” programme will further improve the quality of life of the members and it will provide significant benefits to them as well as their families.
For this reason we are planning to expand the programme to other units of the Air Force, under the condition that they have available utilisable facilities. This initiative is integrated to the overall effort of the Ministry to upgrade and utilise the facilities of the Armed Forces all around, for the increase of financial resources to the National Defence, as well as to improve the working and living conditions of the Personnel, always in combination with the needs of the wider society.
With this opportunity, I should mention that the Ministry – and with regards to the political leadership – had and continues to hold the position that the utilisation of the Armed Forces real estate must be conducted in a way which benefits the Armed Forces on one hand, the families of the active and retired Members, which saves resources for the needs of the Armed Forces, but which also benefits the local society on the other hand, wherever that can apply.
At this level, we are completely open to suggestions for the utilisation of the Armed Forces real estate assets. We have talked with members of the Local Self-government and with the Mayor. The MPs naturally support all these initiatives and we are open to suggestions so as to examine and jointly conclude what is the optimal way to utilise them, for the benefit of the Armed Forces and the local societies.
The action we inaugurate today, according to our estimations, will also promote tourism in the local society of the wider area. Apart from the modern facilities of the 120 Air Training Wing, whose premises I am visiting for the first time. I have been in the wonderful Kalamata before, but it is my first visit here, but not the last. We will come many times more, based on our plans for this emblematic Unit, which is strategically critical for the future of the Air Force, since here lies the heart of Flight Training. So, the Members of the 120 Air Training Wing will have the chance to discover, also through the amenities of this programme, the natural beauty of Messenia and the Peloponnese in general.
I would be remiss if I didn’t say a few words about the overall strategic plan for the upgrade of the Kalamata Air Base, after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Agreement with Israel. As I told you, it is not solely an issue of acquiring Weapon Systems, but also an issue of Personnel Welfare. The first element of an overall and effective Welfare is the issue of Training.
The students of the Air Force Academy, who come here to go through the flying part of their training, are the future of the Air Force. As long as there are doubts about the future, there will also be doubts about the Air Force continuing to hold the position of one of the best Air Forces, if not the best, in the world. Our estimations are that based on the problems which existed regarding the availability of the 120 Air Training Wing’s infrastructures for an integrated, effective and swift training for the students of the Air Force Academy, we had to proceed to interventions. The strategic significance agreements which we signed with Israel thoroughly secure the future of the Air Force, impressively upgrading the overall capabilities of the 120 Air Training Wing.
Apart from the fact that we strategically connect with a country with which we share common views regarding the geopolitical situation but also for the preservation of peace, security and stability in the wider region, we are approaching the Air Force of a country which also belongs to the global elite and I think that such an action can only lead to mutual benefit.
A very substantial project will soon begin here. Overall training will be conducted to the terrene infrastructures, highly modern systems will be added for the terrene training of the students, but I would say that a dramatic and swift upgrade of Flying Assets is going to take place. Sufficient propeller-driven training aircraft will be maintained and granted, so as to thoroughly cover not just the requirements of the Air Force, but also to possibly attract trainees from third countries. New highly modern 5th generation jets will be made available, an issue which until recently preoccupied the Air Force as an unresolved problem, because those already at our disposal are nearing the end of their operational life cycle and after a while we would find ourselves at an unprecedented dead-end. Finally, the 120 Air Training Wing will be turned into an International Training Centre capable of attracting the best third country trainees. And of course – this is an aspect I cannot omit – this will prove beneficial for the local society and economy.
Pertaining to the agreement, talks have been conducted in the Parliament, where the MP colleagues have expressed their questions, which have been answered satisfactorily, but when the need arises we will talk again with bodies of the local society and the Local Self-government. The agreement will be conducted in such a way that the operation of the Kalamata Airport will not be hindered at all, going through a great period after the “boom” of touristic interest for Kalamata and the Peloponnese. Naturally the same stands for the overall touristic product of this beautiful area. There is a way, and of course the issue has already been raised during negotiations, for the increased activity at the Flight Training Project to avoid having even a minimum of negative impact on the overall touristic product currently offered by Messenia.
Provisions have been made for all of the above and they will constitute part of the final agreement. The huge benefit and the point of our focus will be the actual securing of the bright future of the Air Force. There is a myth in the Ministry of National Defence (I can see the Chief smirking under the mask) that as a Minister I have a partiality for the Air Force. That is not accurate. I believe in this Service’s capabilities and in the great added value it provides to the overall deterrent imprint of the Armed Forces. Within two years, significant decisions were made, setting the foundations for an even better, generally more deterrent Air Force. For the first time since 2012 a Follow-on Support Agreement has been concluded for “Mirage 2000”, so as to secure an unhindered spare parts flow and this has already benefitted the recorded availabilities in the circles of the Air Force.
I would say that we broke a record by swiftly concluding the agreement for the acquisition of eighteen “Rafale” aircraft. The whole affair was completed in six months since the beginning of negotiations, something unusual for those who are aware of the times required in these cases. In about a month from now, the first aircraft with Greek insignia on the wings and of course a Greek pilot, will land in Tanagra, which from now on will be the “Rafale” Base. The rest of the group of six will follow, while we have scheduled to receive a total of 18 aircraft in three groups of six, in the next two years.
It will constitute a tremendous enhancement of the Air Force’s capabilities, given that these fighter aircraft do not come alone. They are coming along with signed Follow-on Support Agreements and procurement of weapons, which have their own great significance.
The programme for the upgrade of eighty four F-16 aircraft to the most advanced version of this aircraft in the world, the “Viper” version, is developing smoothly and within the stipulated timetable. Of course other versions of various aircraft types will also follow (in a way they will also benefit), but we will examine these in time, after this upgrade.
We concluded this strategic agreement which also secures the integral training of the Air Force Academy students, the attraction of students from third countries, in order to set sound foundations for the future of the Air Force. We will also solve the problem regarding the transport aircraft of the fleet. We cannot leave any issue unresolved. Just the fact that both basic types of transport aircraft can be serviced through the conclusion of Follow-on Support Agreements which have been authorised by the Hellenic Parliament, demonstrates – if nothing else – that this issue is also underway.
So, there is a lot of activity and more initiatives will take place, beneficial for the other Services as well. It is the “summer of major decisions” for the Hellenic Navy. This issue will also be resolved, since the decision pertaining to the new ships of the Hellenic Navy, will determine its fate for the next 30 years. And there is more to come.
In any case, everyone must comprehend that there are accomplishments in the Armed Forces, in the Ministry of Defence, in the field of Systems’ capabilities’ enhancement, but also in the field of a capable and valuable Personnel (as it has always been) to operate the systems, supported by infrastructures proportional to its value.
I would like to thank and congratulate all those who worked for the conception, planning and materialisation of this action. Apparently Chief, more accommodation facilities will be required, according to the existing plans for Kalamata, but we are here to set the wheels in motion, regarding these issues as well. I wish that more Air Force units will join the particular programme, soon and everywhere. Today is a fine day, but a lot of work lies behind it, a great amount of work, a solid bedrock, and those who contributed in that work are worthy of the utmost praise.
Our country deserves to have the Air Force it always had in the best possible condition, since as I like saying, the country feels secure when the members of our Air Force – all of them but mainly the pilots – cover the Territory with their weapons and wings, providing the umbrella of security which makes the women and men of Greece feeling and being truly secure. Congratulations to you all!
Thank you for your time!”
The Chief of HAFGS stressed the following during his address:
“Ladies and gentlemen,
We are particularly happy to be here today, in the context of the inauguration of the “Hellenic Wings Inns” lodgings at the 120 Air Training Wing, in the beautiful city of Kalamata.
The building of the historic airport of Kalamata started in 1960, as an auxiliary ΝΑΤΟ airport, while from 1968 an extension of facilities was conducted, aiming to be utilised for the flight training of the students of the Hellenic Air Force Academy. With the establishment of the 120 Air Training Group in 1970 and of the 120 Air Training Wing in 1977, it constitutes today the focal point of flight training for the Air Force Pilots, while from this year it is going through a new age due to its upgrade to an International Training Centre.
However, apart from the operational function, the issues of personnel welfare have particular significance and constitute a high priority in the Air Force chain of command. They are connected with the performance and the daily effort of the personnel to respond to the assigned duties and in that sense they are turned into a critical factor of operational effectiveness. With that as a given, we are striving to always be one step ahead of our personnel’s rising requirements, undertaking all those actions which will support our families, facilitate our daily life and bring forth the human dimension through personnel welfare.
A component of these actions is the construction of the Hellenic Wings Inns accommodation facilities of the 120 Air Training Wing after the model of USAF and other European air forces. Their granting for use to the Air Force personnel, for a few days of vacations with their families, ascertains the eminent role of logistics in the regulated operation of the Air Force. Our increased interest which has been demonstrated until today, for accommodation in these lodgings, fills us with satisfaction and is a concrete proof that we are moving towards the right direction. The particular lodging was the old Squadron of the Students of the Hellenic Air Force Academy ΙΙΙ and ΙV up to 2004 and for the purpose of Wings Inns, the building was renovated for new use.
At this point I would like to stress the intention to not only preserve the current actions, but also to develop new ones. To that end we are promoting the extension of the programme to other Air Force Units, with the first being the lodgings in the 350 Guided Missiles Wing in Thessaloniki, which are currently at the stage of preparation and will soon be granted for use.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate all those who worked and contributed to the reconstruction of these facilities. The work proves that searching for innovative solutions and working methodically, we can effectively respond to the modern requirements, despite the given financial but also health challenges.
The Air Force personnel will always stand on the first line of interest for the Leadership and we will continue to work with zeal, so as to secure its mental tranquility and entertainment, under the best possible conditions.
Thank you”.
After the end of the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos visited the 120 Air Training Wing, where he was briefed on training issues, as well as on the commencement of works of the new International Flight Training Centre in Kalamata.
