MBDA will carry out a mid-life refurbishment (MLR) program for the sub-strategic SCALP-EG cruise missiles for the Hellenic Air Force.

The contract in question was signed on May 11, 2023, at the General Directorate of Defence Investments and Armaments (GDDIA).

The contract was signed by Admiral Aristeidis Alexopoulos, General Director for Defence Investments and Armaments of the Greek Ministry of National Defence, and Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA.

This MLR contract is dedicated to the SCALP missiles of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) and includes the procurement of mission planning products, maintenance, and technical assistance. This will prolong the operational superiority of the weapon against future threats.

Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, stated: “The signing of this contract has a particular meaning for MBDA, coming 55 years after we signed our first-ever Exocet contract with Greece. Our commitment since then never faltered and we are very honored by this additional expression of trust from the Hellenic Air Forces towards MBDA for the mid-life refurbishment of these SCALP missiles. This is again reinforcing our commitment to continue to deliver key sovereign capabilities that provide the best solutions to meet the requirements of the Hellenic Armed Forces customer.”

The SCALP missile currently equips the Hellenic Air Force’s Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale fighter aircraft. The missiles concerned by this mid-life refurbishment were ordered as part of the original weapon package for the Mirage 2000-5.

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Also, as part of strengthening its close cooperation with Greece, MBDA today inaugurated a new permanent office in Athens, strengthening the company’s presence in Greece and demonstrating its commitment to supporting the Hellenic Armed Forces.

🇬🇷 MBDA inaugurates new office in Athens, reinforcing 50+ years of support to the Hellenic Armed Forces.

Learn more: https://t.co/OhbLjE2Cng pic.twitter.com/nV6XWCcPH3

— MBDA (@MBDAGroup) May 11, 2023

Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, stated, “the inauguration of our Athens office is a cornerstone in our special relationship with Greece. We are proud to have supported the Hellenic Armed Forces for over 50 years and to have contributed to a strategic and close partnership with Greece, based on strong mutual trust. 

Through this permanent presence of MBDA in Athens, we intend to increase our local investments in Greece and to partner with Greek institutions to continue to deliver key sovereign capabilities that provide the best solutions to meet the requirements of the Hellenic Armed Forces customer.”

According to a relevant announcement, Greece was MBDA’s first customer for the Exocet missile in 1968 and the company has worked with the country for over 50 years. Greece has recently reaffirmed this long-standing relationship with contracts for weapon packages for the Rafale fighter aircraft and its Defence and Intervention Frigates of the Hellenic Navy (FDI HN). 

MBDA’s new office in Athens will be a springboard for even closer cooperation and the development of the local participation of Greek national companies and institutions in the delivery of MBDA’s contracts in Greece and their follow-on phases.

Overall, a first contract was signed in 2021 for the supply of a Rafale weapon systems package for 18 aircraft, with a second weapon package signed in 2022 for another six Rafale. On the same day in 2022, a third contract was signed for a state-of-the-art weapon package from MBDA to equip three new Defence and Intervention Frigates (FDI HN).

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