Defence Redefined

Published on 17/02/2021 at 15:37

The Deputy Minister of National Defence, Alkiviadis Stefanis, briefed today, Wednesday, February 17, 2021, the members of the Parliament’s Special Standing Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts on the two programs that were put forward and received a favourable opinion.

In particular, the programs are the following:

• Procurement of 20mm DS MK149 Mod 4 PHALANX for the Hellenic Navy.
• Follow on Support (FOS) for the “VELOS” Weapon System of the Hellenic Air Force.

The meeting of the Special Standing Committee, which took place in the Senate Hall of the Parliament, was attended by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros, the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Lieutenant General (ret.) Admiral Theodoros Lagios.

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The “VELOS” weapon system is of Swiss origin and joined the Hellenic Air Force in 1982. It is a mobile, short-range air defence system (SHORAD), combining missiles and guns.

The mission of the system is to provide anti-aircraft protection of tactical and strategic targets against aircraft at low and medium altitudes.

It can automatically track 20 targets and simultaneously engage 6 targets, four (4) with missiles and two (2) with guns, at distances of 16 KM with 4 KM respectively.

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Each “VELOS” system consists of:

• One (1) 40km range SUPER GIRAFFE search radar
• Two (2) 20km range SKYGUARD radars
• Four (4) twin 35mm OERLIKON guns
• Four (4) SPARROW RIM-7M missile launchers

The Phalanx CIWS is a close-in weapon system for defence against missiles and helicopters.

It has been designed and manufactured by General Dynamics Corporation (now owned by Raytheon). The Phalanx, consisting of a 20 mm Vulcan cannon, is guided by radar and mounted on a rotating base. The system shields the ships of many countries, such as the USA, Britain and Greece, among other 13 Naval Forces. 

The 20mm MK149 cartridges that the Navy wants to procure provide significant anti-armor capabilities with optimized ballistic performance and short time-of-flight to the target. 

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