No: 209 / 22-3-19 / EB
To
Mr Evangelos Apostolakis, Minister of National Defense
Mr Euclid Tsakaloto, Minister of Finance
Comm.
Mr Kyriakos Kyriakidis, Director General of GAFEF Defense Equipment
Athens, March 22, 2019
Theme :
Greece's participation in the new European FCAS Fighter Aircraft
Honorable Ministers,
According to extensive publications in international print and electronic media, France and Germany agree to develop new European 6th Generation Fighter Aircraft FCAS (Future Combat Air System), while the two governments have expressed a desire to join more European countries in the program. This energy came to step up Spain, which just a few weeks ago decided to participate in the program already signed the relevant agreement with the abovementioned countries.
FCAS is an integrated air combat system that integrates existing and future platforms in an integrated network that works with dozens of others systems. The new aircraft will be able to connect to satellites, with others not
manned aircraft, but also with NATO fighters for better coordination.
With this program the governments of France, Germany and Spain are promoting the aid of the EU defense shield and aim at developing the defense industry and export achievement.
The tendency to unify the needs of European defense supplies is now clear combined with the decentralization of the corresponding programs in the European Union. In the in this context, the activation and exploitation of regional businesses will create synergies and will enhance innovation and competitiveness.
This program provides a good and meaningful perspective for the Ministry of Defense for the future acquisition of a modern state-of-the-art fighter aircraft. OR the decision to participate in the program from its initial phase will be quite significant advantages for the country's defense and security, since it will:
• Participates from the initial phase in the program and will be able to contribute to configuration of the operational requirements of the new aircraft.
• It is one of the first aviation forces in Europe to acquire a modern one new generation fighter and at a competitive price.
• Ensure security of supply.
• Ensure aircraft support throughout the life cycle.
• Enable long-term and planned allocation of resources horizon, with a proportional distribution in the participating countries.
• More than 80% of the cost of participation in the program is returned to the country.
Also, the decision to participate in this collaborative program from the initial phase development of the aircraft, will enable the active involvement of the Greek defense industry, whose participation in the country will bring the following significant benefits:
• Maintaining critical industrial and technological infrastructure.
• Supporting exports and enhancing the competitiveness of the domestic defense industry.
• Production specialization in high-tech products.
• Promotion and creation of joint ventures.
• Enhance the employment of skilled labor.
• Permanent involvement / involvement in aircraft support of all users throughout the life cycle.
• Increase jobs and boost the domestic economy.
About the importance of defense industry involvement in this program, it is worth noting that the Spanish Air Force Commander Leon-Antonio Machés Michavila recently told the International Fighter Conference in Berlin that "we want to we are partners and not customers 'and that is the key factor for Spain' s participation in
program was, to a large extent, the level of industrial involvement offered.
In view of the above and given that such collaborative programs form the core of developments in Europe and our country's previously acquired experience of nEUROn program, we suggest you consider the possibility of our country participating in the program of the new European 6th generation FCAS fighter aircraft.
In order to safeguard the aforementioned significant benefits and advantages of our defense and security, as well as the domestic defense industry, is very much it is important to make a decision to participate in the program at an early stage its development.
Yours sincerely,
The president
The general secretary
Evangelos Veronikiatis
Charalambos Papaspyros

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