The Hellenic International Flight Training Center at the Kalamata 120 Air Training Wing was visited and supervised by delegations of the Ministries of Defence of Greece and Israel, accompanied by the Hellenic Air Force and Elbit Systems. There, the said delegations expressed their satisfaction, as the project has already exceeded the original planning and is progressing faster than planned.

On behalf of the Ministry of National Defence, the Kalamata 120 Air Training Wing was attended by the Commander of the Air Training Directorate, Air Vice Marshal George Vagenas, the head of the International Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Mr. Yair Kulas, and the President and CEO of Elbit Systems, Mr. Bezhael Mahlis. 

The event was also attended by a number of political delegations of the two states and representatives of the Region and the local government from Kalamata and the wider area of ​​Messinia.

This special event marked the take-off of the International Flight Training Center, with most of the fleet of T-6 aircraft now being operational. 

It is noted that construction work has also begun, with the first training building to be completed in early 2023, while the Logistics Center at the air base as well as the support center for T-6 training aircraft is already operational. 

At the same time, progress is being made on the production of the new M-346 aircraft, the interconnected flight simulators, and the Ground Training Stations at the base. 

The event concluded with the presentation of the honorary plaque with a symbolic inscription in Greek, Hebrew, and English, which reads: “The Jerusalem stone, laid as the cornerstone of the Hellenic International Flight Training Center, stands as a symbol of the strong ties between the Greek and Israeli people.” 

Afterwards, the Ministry delegations viewed the operational fleet of T-6 training aircraft, which now has even more aircraft available. These aircraft are used to carry out training flights on a daily basis at the 120 Air Training Wing of Kalamata.

In the context of the intergovernmental agreement between the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence and the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Elbit Systems, through a contract worth approximately 1.375 billion euros, undertook the creation of the Hellenic International Flight Training Center back in April 2021.

The agreement simultaneously entails the supply and operation of new M-346 training aircraft, the maintenance of the entire training fleet consisting of the new M-346 and dozens of T-6 training aircraft, the provision of integrated flight electronic systems to the training aircraft, interconnected flight simulators, ground training stations and command, and control system.

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