Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Explores Advanced Aviation Training at Kalamata Base

Of particular interest were the high-resolution flight simulators and flight path tracking systems, which play a crucial role in enhancing the theoretical and practical training provided to the officers. Additionally, the prime minister engaged with Israeli experts, whose valuable support has been instrumental in elevating the educational standards at the training wing.

The Kalamata base is the International Flight Training Center, a joint project resulting from a Greece-Israel agreement worth approximately 1.37 billion euros. The agreement, signed between the defence ministries of both nations in April 2021, includes the involvement of the Israeli company Elbit Systems. Since its inauguration in October 2022, the centre has made significant strides in procurement and operation, notably acquiring new training planes such as the M-346.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis expressed his satisfaction with the government’s decision to invest substantially in the aviation training sector, forging a partnership with a reputable Israeli company. This collaboration allows young aviators the opportunity to undergo training with state-of-the-art aircraft, exemplified by the M-346 light combat plane manufactured by Leonardo.

The visit also provided an update on delivering the first two M-346s to the Hellenic Air Force, now actively utilized at the 120 Air Training Wing. These advanced aircraft are ideal assets in preparing aspiring flying officers, who will later transition to operating 4th and 5th-generation fighter jets.