Lockheed Martin: A presentation that concerned the Greek Defense Industry

The event was attended by the US Embassy officer, ​​Kate Marie Byrnes, Director General of the Directorate for Defense Equipment and Investments (DGAEE) of the Department of National Defense, Vice Admiral, Kyriakos Kyriakidis, President of the Hellenic Air Industry (DAH) Vice-Chief Zacharias Ghikas, President of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce Simos Anastassopoulos, and host of the event Lockheed Martin Vice President of Entrepreneurial Development Initiatives for Europe, Middle East and Africa Denis Plessas .

During the event, US embassy officer Kate Marie Byrnes expressed her satisfaction with the course of the strategic dialogue between Greece and the US, which she described as constructive, and said that the two countries had come to expand and modernize their defense cooperation.

At the same time, the US Embassy official referred to the forthcoming arrival to Greece of seventy OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters from US Army's stockpiles, the upgrading of the HAI infrastructure to implement the F-16 C / D Block52plus/52M and P-3B Orion aircraft.

During the presentation there was reference to the planned integration of Greek small and medium-sized defense industries into the supply chain of the American giants, which would certainly have beneficial effects. This development is particularly important and, as reported by the US embassy, ​​it will be included on the agenda of the two countries' discussions next year.

A similar report on the progress of HAT programs and activities of the company realized the chairman of company Marshal (ret) Zacharias Gikas, while the problems, weaknesses and prospects of the Greek Defense Industry were reported on by the Director General of the Directorate for Defense Equipment and Investments (DGAEE) Vice Admiral Kyriakos Kyriakides.

The Director General noted that the Hellenic Defense Industry can become a lever for the country's economic development, that opportunities exist, and pointed out that the presence in the Greek Armed Forces of weapons systems of eastern and western origin is an important element that gives opportunities for activation.

He stressed that in order for the Hellenic Defense Industry to do well abroad it should do well on the domestic market. He stressed that there should finally be a long-term armament planning and procurement program and that changes should only concern priorities.