@MIASCB,

Thanks for your pictures.

[size=5]Hellenic Air Force Day 2006[/size]

Mirage 2000-5

Mirage 2000EG with Exocet and Magic 2 missiles.

RF-4E

F-16CG Block 30

Crotale S.A.M.

The CROTALE NG/GR anti-aircraft system is of French origin and is operational with HAF since 2003.

Skyguard “VELOS” S.A.M

The VELOS system is of Swiss origin and has been operational wiht HAF since 1982. A system upgrade is pending.

It is a mobile, all-weather, short-range (SHORAD) anti-aircraft system with a combination of missiles and guns.

It can provide anti-aircraft defense capability to tactical and strategic targets against aicraft in low and medium altitudes.

It can automatically track 20 different targets and concurrently engage 6; 4 with missiles and 2 with guns.

Each VELOS system is comprised of :

• One 40km range SUPER GIRAFFE search radar.
• Two 20Km range SKYGUARD radars.
• Four twin 35mm OERLIKON guns.
• Four SPARROW RIM–7M Missile Launchers.

Pictures by Kinmid. 😎

The Official Hellenic Air force website has had a phabulous update.

http://www.haf.gr/media/

Thanks to Chris450 for the heads up!

Cheers,
Alepou 340MB 😎

The Hellenic Air force’s website has been updated.

See more:

http://www.haf.gr/el/media/

Cheers,
Alepou 340MB 😎

[SIZE=5]Fifth Hellenic Navy FAC to Be Launched[/SIZE]

(Source: VT Group; issued Oct. 16, 2006)

VT Shipbuilding, working in partnership with Elefsis Shipbuilding, will launch the fifth of class 62m. fast attack craft for the Hellenic Navy at the Elefsis shipyard on October 9.

The ship, which will be named HS Ritsos, is the latest milestone in a successful project that sees VT, working through Greek subsidiary VT Hellas, and Elefsis partnered to build five FACs, with an option for two more ships likely to be taken up in the future.

Three of the highly sophisticated craft are already service and have already demonstrated their capability operating out of the base at Amfialia, an outstation of Salamis Naval Base.

VT has played a valuable role in helping Elefsis to build a ship that has won widespread admiration. Initially, the VT team worked with Elefsis in a 40 million Euro investment on upgrading the expansive shipyard ready for the new project, investing in a new assembly hall and offices, plus new shell rolls, panel line, laser cutting and pipe bending machinery.

Detailed construction drawings of the Super Vita were then given to the Greek shipyard ready for the start of production with VT and Elefsis management working together and with Elefsis interfacing with the Hellenic Navy. Another key link in the chain was back in the UK where most of the ship equipments were procured by VT Shipbuilding before being sent to Greece.

Once the ships were structurally complete and the platform systems set to work by Elefsis, VT took over the task of weapons integration, setting to work and sea trials prior to final finishing off and handover to the Hellenic Navy.

VT Hellas project Director Bruce Balchin explains: “Our responsibility was a lot at the front end before Elefsis took over the middle and the ship came back to VT for the last part of the programme. Now the first three ships are delivered the Hellenic Navy are delighted with them.”

The FACs have an established pedigree based on smaller 56-metre vessels built for Qatar, Oman and Kenya. One of the most impressive aspects saw the first-of-class ship, HS Roussen, identified with only a minimal number of defects to be corrected when she was inspected before hand-over – indeed, even less than the latter Sandown Class minehunters built at Woolston.

Mr Balchin adds: “The Hellenic Navy is a demanding customer but we have worked closely with Elefsis and the HN to a deliver a first class ship that ranks among the most advanced FACs in the world today. The design has already attracted interest from other potential customers.”

-ends-

http://www.defense-aerospace.com

Pictures from hellenicnavy.gr

[size=5]Delivery of the “S” Class Frigate “Kountouriotis”[/size]

(Source: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems; issued Sept. 12, 2006)

On Tuesday September 12th, 2006, the “S” Class Frigate “Kountouriotis” was delivered to the Hellenic Navy, during a ceremony that took place in the premises of Hellenic Shipyards S.A. in Skaramangas. Rear Admiral I. Karaiskos H.N., Deputy Chief of Fleet, attended the ceremony.

The Frigate “Kountouriotis” is the first of the six “S” Class frigates to be modernized for the Hellenic Navy. HS “Kountouriotis,” underwent extensive and demanding sea trials following her modernization, having had all her systems successfully tested and is now ready to join again the Hellenic Navy.

The Hellenic Ministry of Defense awarded the “S” class frigates contract to Hellenic Shipyards in 2003. The foreseen end of this program is October 2009.

The modernization scope of work is mainly the renewal of most of the sensors and weapon systems, the installation of a new tactical combat system, the modernization of the communication and navigation systems, the replacement of the propulsion, monitoring and control system (IPMS) and some other platform modernization works.

These developments render the vessels particularly effective in meeting the specific operational needs of the Hellenic Navy and represent a significant and important step in the process of modernization that the Hellenic Navy is carrying out.

Two more frigates are being currently modernized in the premises of Hellenic Shipyards S.A., Frigate “Adrias” and Frigate “Navarino”. Frigate “Adrias” is planned to be delivered to the Hellenic Navy in November 2006.

With regard to the frigate delivery, Mr. Thies Stueber, Member of the Board and COO of Hellenic Shipyards S.A. stated: “This is a fine example of the work of Hellenic Shipyards, supported by the know-how of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Hellenic Shipyards S.A. is becoming a technologically advanced shipyard and we will continue to invest in that direction.”

-ends-

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?session=dae.17222477.1138919760.Q@KJUMOa9dUAACYqJxg&modele=jdc_34

Cheers,
Alepou 340MB

The re-delivery of the frigate F-462 “KOUNTOURIOTIS” after the completion of the mid-Life upgrade program will take place on 12 September 2006 at Greek Ship yards “Skaramagka”

Link is in Greek only.
http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=695&Itemid=51
😎