Elbit seals 20-year Greek training deal
T-6 Texan trainer aircraft in Israeli livery. (Photo: Elbit Systems)
Israeli company Elbit Systems is establishing and operating a flight training academy in Greece.
Elbit Systems announced on 18 April that it has officially obtained a $1.65 billion contract to establish and run the Hellenic Air Force International Flight Training Center (IFTC).
The IFTC will be modelled on the Israel Air Force flight academy.
The deal (based on a project announced in January 2021) was awarded as part of an agreement between the Greek and Israeli MoDs. Under the contract, Elbit will work with the Hellenic Air Force at Kalamata airbase to provide Phase II and III training on the T-6 Texan and Phase IV lead-in fighter training on a fleet of ten new M-346s.
Elbit Systems stated that it would also maintain the entire Hellenic Air Force training fleet (including ‘dozens of M-346 and T-6 training aircraft’) for about 20 years.
These aircraft will be equipped with the latest advanced embedded virtual onboard avionics. Elbit will additionally deliver networked flight simulators and an array of ground-based training stations (GBTS) and C2 systems ‘to enable efficient management of the flight training operation’, the company added.
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