The Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos informed the members of the Special Standing Committee on Armaments Programs and Contracts of the Hellenic Parliament on the activation of programs, at a meeting held in “President Athanassios Tsaldaris” Hall, on Wednesday 28 July 2021.
The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis, the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros, the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis, the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Charalambos Laloussis, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis, the General Director of Defence Armaments and Investments Vice Admiral (ret.) Aristeidis Alexopoulos and the General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos.
During the meeting and following a thorough briefing by the Political and Military Leadership of the Armed Forces, the members of the Special Standing Committee approved the following:
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Activation of Helicopters OH-58D “Kiowa Warrior” follow-on support program.
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Activation of LOA refunding program to support Hellenic Army’s aerial assets.
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Activation of Helicopters CH-47D “Chinook” follow-on support program.
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Activation of a program regarding the conclusion of an agreement for the industrial maintenance of two C-130 transport aircraft.
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Ratification of the decision to implement a program for the control and maintenance of RAM Guided Missiles.
Due to the time limit of two and a half hours for the completion of the meeting since its beginning, the Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos approved the request submitted by SYRIZA and KINAL representatives to conduct a comprehensive discussion about the “F-16 Block50” fighters upgrade program, in the very next meeting of the Committee, in late August, or in early September. It should be noted that, although this specific program could have been approved by majority, the will of the Government is everyone to be fully briefed, so that the Armed Forces procurements are conducted under conditions of absolute transparency.
