At the beginning of September, it is estimated that the plan for the division of AAB and the privatization of the production part with the introduction of a strategic partner (Lockheed Martin) will be ready and handed over to the authorities. By definition, the Minister of Development Adonis Georgiadis is responsible for the privatization part (and only), however the letter that will describe the facts from the American side will also be delivered to the Ministers of Finance Christos Staikouras and National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos.
As “K” was the first to reveal during the visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Washington last May, practically the contacts between the two sides are aimed at the separation of EAB into two companies. The first, which will include fixed assets and infrastructure, will remain under the control of the State and the second will essentially be the company that will proceed with the various projects, such as aircraft construction, aircraft repairs, aircraft upgrades and engine maintenance.
Despite the initial discussions between the Greek government and Lockheed Martin, on whose behalf the ODA actually carries out almost 75% of its work (F-16, P-3, C-130 upgrade, parts of the F-16 global chain et al.), and the involvement of legal advisors and other experts, the optimal, legally and technically, method that will be used to proceed with the “breaking” of the company in two without disrupting the company’s business operation is being sought.
In any case, if the privatization goes ahead, the ODA will turn into a hub of construction and repair involving aircraft such as the C-130, F-16 and other systems not limited to the Air Force (AF) fleet. but more broadly. It could, in short, make the ODA a hub for an important regional market.
Meanwhile, yesterday SYRIZA’s Defense Department officials, P. Rigas, T. Dritsas and G. Tsipras, citing reports, questioned whether the BMP-1 armored fighting vehicles (ABM) had indeed been withdrawn from the islands, complaining that this is done in violation of the Greece-Germany agreement for the previous arrival of the Marder. The reality at the moment, based on well-informed sources, is this: Some BMP-1s have indeed been transferred to mainland Greece for maintenance, as most are not in operational condition. The M-1113s and some of the American M-1117s, much more suitable for the island terrain, have already been placed in their place. Therefore, there is no question of meeting defense needs. On the contrary, because the Army staff knows very well both the terrain and the needs of motorized units, it has already been decided that the Marders, when they come to Greece, will not be transferred to the islands but to the armored brigades of Thrace, where their capabilities can be to be utilized to the maximum extent.
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, detected Greece’s annoyance at the departure of the “Abdul Hamid Khan” for drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean in the reactions of Athens. “What did we do yesterday – the day before yesterday?” We guided the drilling vessel “Abdul Hamit Khan” from Tasuju, Mersina. But Greece was very disturbed. “Hey, what’s this Erdogan doing?” they said. Erdoğan is not doing anything… He is doing his job,” the Turkish president characteristically said. At the same time, yesterday morning another flight of a Turkish UAV was recorded over Greek territory, specifically in Trianisia Astypalaia.
