It is known to everyone that there is a great need for TOMA in the Greek EDs, while we are talking about hundreds of jobs, investments and the transfer of know-how from a country leading in the field
According to press reports, we have extremely advanced consultations between the Ministry of National Defense and a German company, which will be formalized with the visit of Chancellor O. Soltz to Athens.
The Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz is coming to Athens on October 27, 2022, one day before the anniversary of “NO”, for a substantial investment, which shows the possible change of course of the Germans in our country.
The main topic of discussion will be a major investment in the defense industry with the creation of a production and maintenance line for armored vehicles in Northern Greece, STAR News channel reports.
“Greece is also expanding its alliances with countries that have traditionally avoided upsetting Turkey, such as Germany. On the eve of October 28, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be in Athens, according to the Star’s information, accepting the invitation of the Greek Prime Minister.
As we are informed, at a time when Germany is making major breakthroughs after some time in the field of defense equipment, the German defense industry is interested in the construction of a production and maintenance unit for armored vehicles, such as the Leopards that the Greek army has.
Thus, after the relations with France-USA, Greece is applying to have the unit here, specifically in Northern Greece”, reports the channel.
The transfer of the production line (to Volos or Thessaloniki) of a German company to Greece is an initiative of the Greek side, which is trying to turn our country into a hub for repair, maintenance of German TOMAs and possible battle tanks.
The entry into the Greek arsenal of the German TOMA, MARDER, introduces the country and its defense industry into the field of German TOMA.
We remind you that in the Summer there was a demonstration of the capabilities of the German TOMA (Armored Combat Vehicle) KF41 Lynx at the KETTH camp, by the Rheinmetall company, before a committee of GES officers.
The impressions left by the German TOMA were really excellent, and we do not hide that the Greek army has an issue in this area, despite the supply from the USA of the M-1117 wheeled armored vehicles.
The Greek armed forces rely on the TOMA M-113 which are old technology and do not respond to the modern character of future military operations.
Rheinmetall’s proposal for the Greek army includes a procurement program for a total of 170 IFV KF41 Lynx and 200 Marder 1A3. The German company already has around 200 Marder 1A3s ready for delivery.
Alongside the two proposals for new and used equipment acquisition programs (modernization of Leopard tanks and supply of IFVs KF41 and Marder 1A3), Rheinmetall’s proposal includes financing through borrowing as well as a series of industrial investments in Greece in order to have the best possible transfer of know-how and domestic added value.
In fact, the Turks, who follow the matter and are unimaginably struggling in every Greek armament program, were also mentioned in the matter, since they see that they are changing in the Greek armed forces.
At the same time as acquiring used Marders at a cost of around 500,000 euros per modernized vehicle, the Greek army will get a very durable and modern vehicle with a number of proposed improvements (new turret, new laser rangefinder, new armor).
Ankara is in a really desperate situation with the issue of ALTAY tank engines and for the third time announces a signature with South Korea.
It is true that the Turkish defense industry cannot find engines for its new tanks anywhere, while Ankara ignores that it is entering an economic war with the West, since the USA, France, and Germany will have to sell their own tanks as well.
The west will not allow the Turks to supply the Middle East and Asia with weapons, after they were alarmed for example, after the sales of BAYRAKTAR to Poland, Romania, Ukraine and other countries.
Turks and South Koreans sign everything for the new Turkish tank and nothing is done.
Germany is changing course in its foreign policy after the withdrawal of A.Merkel, and this is good for our country, which, having an open interior (current and accuracy), has to face the unstoppable Turkish provocation at the same time.
A move that would really change Greek-German relations would be the issue of the Turkish Type-214 submarines and the cancellation of their delivery, while information indicates that we already have an issue with the non-transfer of German know-how to the Turkish side.
