The official presentation of the strategic cooperation between the Hellenic Defence Systems (HDS) and the German Heckler & Koch (HK) took place yesterday, Thursday, April 6.

According to HDS, CEO Nikos Kostopoulos stated that the strengthening of cooperation with one of the leading companies of the German defence industry as well as the parallel initiative for trans-European cooperation in the field of research and innovation between HDS and the German-Dutch consortium, led by the HK, is the result of the systematic efforts made in recent years to reorganize and develop HDS.

It is the beginning, he added, of a joint effort, which not only significantly strengthens the position of HDS, but will also be a catalyst for the development of the Greek Defence Industry as a whole.

For his part, the Managing Director of HK, Jens B. Koch, referred to the company’s strong interest in the development of production activities in Greece, aiming at strategic cooperation with HDS on a global level. It is noted that HK incorporated a subsidiary company in Greece (HK Hellas) seeking improved coordination and constant support of the cooperation with HDS.

Dr. Ioannis Loukas, Managing Director of HK Hellas, referring to the strategic importance of the incorporation of the company, emphasized that it will be the driving force for the commencement of joint production in Greece of HK products to be sold on the international market. Furthermore, the immediate assignment of a project worth at least 50 million euros to HDS for the next 2-3 years was mentioned.

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Of central importance for the strategic cooperation with HDS is the creation of a Defence Research and Innovation Center. The Center will be set up by the HK Hellas together with the Dutch company Forceapp, as the head of a group of Dutch companies, with the participation of important Greek research companies and Higher Education Institutions.

The creation of the Center is part of the European Defence Research Cooperation between Greece, Germany and the Netherlands. The Center, added the announcement, will fill an important, existing gap in the Defence sector, while strengthening the country’s position in the context of its alliances at the EU and NATO levels.

The signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation between HDS and Heckler & Koch was honored with the presence of high-rank delegations of the two competent Ministries of National Defence and Finance and, more specifically, the General Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Antonis Economou, the General Secretary of Economic Policy, Nikolaos Koulocheris, the Director of the Finance Minister’s office, Christos Karaplis, the General Director of Defence Equipment and Investments, Admiral (ret.) Aristides Alexopoulos, the Deputy General Manager of Defence Equipment and Investments, General (ret.) Michail Papadakis, and Brigadier Ioannis Keliafanos on behalf of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.

The HDS Board of Directors was represented by Chairman Athanasios Tsiolkas, the Employee Representative Ioannis Sarantis, Agesilaos Veroutis as well as senior officials and Presidents and Secretaries of the HDS employee unions.

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