On Wednesday 8 November 2023, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, attended the celebration of the Patron Saint of the Air Force Archangel Mihail, held at the Air Force Academy, in Dekelia Air Base.
On behalf of the military leadership, the celebration was attended by the Chief HNDGS, General Konstantinos Floros, the Chief HAFGS, Lieutenant General (HAF) Themistoklis Bourolias, the Chief HNGS, Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis HN, the Hellenic Army Inspector General, Lieutenant General Anastasios Spanos, representing the Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Angelos Choudeloudis, the Commandant of the Air Force Academy, Major General (HAF) Konstantinos Karamesinis, general officers of the Air Force and other members of the Armed Forces.
Representatives of the Hellenic Parliament, the Church, the political parties, the Security Forces, the Local and Regional Government, Honorary Chiefs, Defence Attachés of other countries, etc. also attended. In his address for the ceremony, Mr. Dendias stated the following: “Your Eminence, dear fellow MP representing the Hellenic Parliament, Your Eminence, the representative of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, dear Head of the Parliamentary Group of the “SPARTIATES” party, fellow MPs, Chief of HNDGS, dear Deputy Head of Region, Chiefs, ladies and
gentlemen.
It is with great pleasure that I am here today, at the Air Force Academy, to celebrate the patron saint of the Air Force, Archangel Mihail. Our Air Force serves a dual role. It is a basic pillar of our country’s deterrence, but as the Chief correctly stated before me, it is also a pillar of contribution to society. Its competence, its effectiveness, guarantee the fulfilment of these roles, for
the security of our homeland, the stability in the broader region of Eastern Mediterranean, the deterrence against any aggression and revisionism.
In everyday life the Greek wings emphasise their presence, wherever required, both within the state and beyond. Ladies and gentlemen, the State keeps on trying to reinforce and modernise
our Air Force to achieve tangible and countable results. 18 combat ready Rafales are at Tanagra base; the delivery of the remaining 6 aircraft is still ongoing. The F-16 Viper version reinforces our flights. The Mirage 2000-5 support contract is executed for the first time since 2012. Procurements of selected weapon systems are implemented. The International Air Training Centre in Kalamata contributes to the training of our new pilots.
The innovation of the Operational Training Squadron in Andravida proves that our Air Force has its eyes into the future. But, beyond this address, I must speak clearly and honestly about what is
actually at stake currently. I am talking about the country’s ability to effectively support with its own means the structure of our Air Force, which has been and is still being built with the sacrifices of the Greek people.
First, I am talking about the Hellenic Aerospace Industry, which has been absolutely problematic for decades. I feel obliged to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that I have no intension of remaining a silent observer of the current situation. As our Novelist poet would say, I have no intension of becoming “an oarsman in futile lakes”. The Government I am a part of, the Mitsotakis Government, considers the country’s defence a holistic capability, a capability necessary for our national survival; a complete combat system and a complete support system as well.
We do not aspire for our country to be relegated the role of a showcase for foreign air weapon systems. The strong, the exceptionally strong, I dare say, muscle system of our Air Force needs the spine that a serious Hellenic Aerospace Industry can provide.
So, the Hellenic Aerospace Industry, from now on, will be supervised once again by the Ministry of National Defence and it must be reformed. In our prayers to Archangel Mihail, the patron saint, along with Archangel Gavriil, of my small village as well, Kato Dendiatika in Paxi, in these prayers, we must add the thorough and hard effort to create a modern, serious Hellenic Aerospace Industry.
This constitutes a national matter and a national goal. It goes beyond governments and parties. That is why I will inform all the parties of the Hellenic Parliament and I am certain that they will help the national effort.
Ladies and gentlemen, Greece has great potential and strong ambitions. The new generation of Greeks, the human capital of our country, can support the national effort. It is not necessary for young Greeks to leave abroad. Greek minds must not serve foreign countries and flags. The creation of a defence innovation ecosystem, with the participation of the Greek enterprises that will provide ideas, products, and services, that will support – if not grow – our defence capabilities, is not beyond our society’s capabilities.
Other countries in our region made it happen. We can make it happen too. I will refer to the matter again soon; the relevant law on innovation is already in the process of drafting in the Ministry of National Defence. A big part of the nternal procedures has been completed. In conclusion, I must pay my respects to the pilots who have passed. I am referring specifically to the 166 fallen pilots since 1974. They have fallen fulfilling their duty. I have the personal moral obligation to mention, and I will always do so, by name, those fallen during my tenure as Minister: Captain Panagiotis Laskaris, on 26/1/2015, Captain Athanasios Zagas, also on 26/1/2015, Captain Christos Moulas, on 25/7/2023, and Second Lieutenant Periklis Stefanidis, on 25/7/2023.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have an obligation to thank and congratulate all personnel of the Air Force for the outstanding fulfillment of their duties. Members of our Air Force, I express from the bottom of my heart my sincere gratitude for your contribution in defending the National Laws, the territorial integrity of our country, our sovereignty, its sovereign rights. Happy Air Force Day to all.
Thank you”.
Finally, the Minister of National Defence visited and was given a tour of the Air Force Museum (Leros Hangar) at Dekelia Air Base.
