On Monday, 1 February 2021, the Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, visited the facilities of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) in Tanagra, accompanied by the General Director of the General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments, Lieutenant General (HAF) Theodoros Lagios (ret.).
The Minister was welcomed by HAI’s President of the Board, Mr. Ioannis Koutras, and CEO, Mr. Dimitrios Papakostas. The meeting, which included a presentation of the programmes in progress, focusing on the Hellenic Air Force’s F-16 fighter upgrade programme to the Viper configuration and the C-130 transport upgrade programme, was also attended by the VP for Business Development Initiatives of Lockheed Martin Aeuronautics International, Mr. Dennys Plessas.
Mr. Panagiotopoulos was shown the prototype upgraded F-16 Viper aircraft, which is soon expected to take off for the US, where it will be subjected to extensive technical inspection. The Minister then was given a tour of the production areas and met the Workers’ Union representatives. After the conclusion of the visit, the Minister of National Defence spoke in glowing terms and stressed HAI’s exceptional importance in supporting the Armed Forces.
