A series of programs to strengthen the Armed Forces are expected to be promoted in Parliament in the coming days, while some are in the process of resolving the technical and legal issues that accompany them. On Monday, the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, will inform the Parliamentary Committee on Armaments about a series of programs, the most important of which is the 215 million euro supply of three American MH-60R (Romeo) helicopters.

The acquisition of the three helicopters will significantly enhance the anti-submarine capabilities of the Navy (PN), which in 2021 will begin to receive four more Romeo. The activation of the possibility of supplying three more helicopters (a total of seven) also indicates the will to modernize the anti-submarine fleet of the PN, which is significantly obsolete. On Monday, the program of support of the weapon systems of the Army through the NATO NSPA will also be presented. In addition, for the needs of the Air Force, a maintenance program of some of the older F-16s (Bl. 30) is being promoted, as well as the anti-aircraft system “ARTEMIS 30”.

It is noted that just a few days earlier it became known that the case of NH-90 helicopters is leading to disengagement, as the contract for the receipt of the last six was signed, as well as the support of the others. In the coming days, it is also expected to complete the legal and technical processes required to proceed with the case of the creation of an International Aviation Training Center in Kalamata. As it is known, the project will be developed by the Israeli company ELBIT. At the same time, developments in the issue of frigates are progressing rapidly. The day before yesterday, the Spanish ambassador to Athens, Enrique Vigera, officially handed over the file of the NAVANTIA proposal to Mr. Panagiotopoulos. An interesting aspect of the Spanish proposal is that it now includes a section that provides for the construction of F-110 frigates in Greece. As “K” has already revealed in time (22/2), the Spaniards are proposing new A-3000 frigates as an intermediate solution.

Source: kathimerini.gr