Page 12 - ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΑΕΡΟΠΟΡΙΚΗ ΒΙΟΜΗΧΑΝΙΑ - 50 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ | HELLENIC AEROSPACE INDUSTRY - 50 YEARS

HELLENIC AEROSPACE INDUStRY
Message from Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias on the 50th anniversary of the ΗΑι
τhe Hellenic Aerospace Industry is cele- brating 50 years of activity in a field that is closely intertwined with the mission of the Armed Forces and the maintenance
and development of their crucial capabilities. Konstantinos Karamanlis envisioned not just the creation of an industry, but a company—a pil- lar of defence, capable of operating in a highly demanding environment and offering valuable services to the defence of national sovereignty
and our sovereign rights.
the 50th anniversary of the Hellenic Aero-
space Industry coincides with the implementation of “Agenda 2030”, the biggest reform in the his- tory of the Armed Forces. A reform that focuses on the development of innovation, defence tech- nology, and the domestic defence industry.
the Hellenic Center for Defence Innovation (HCDI)/(ELKAK), established by Law 5110/2024, and the Hellenic Research, technological De- velopment, and Innovation Centre (KEtAK) of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEEtHA) play a pivotal role in our planning. the plan also includes the utilization of our scientific human resources, the upgrading of infrastructure, the support of research and development, coop- eration with private and international bodies, and the utilization of EU funded programs.
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As far as HAI is concerned, it is true that over the course of 50 years there have been major fluctuations in the company’s operations.
Now, HAI is no longer a state-owned aircraft maintenance company. Efforts are being made to transform it into a modern technological clus- ter, a strategic tool of power at the disposal of the National Defense. With its human resources, engineers, technicians, designers, scientists, and employees at all levels at the forefront, it has the potential to become a platform for innovation. It can claim an active role in the European and in- ternational market and, overcoming past mistakes, operate at high speeds in a highly demanding environment.
the goal is to become a platform for innova- tion that claims an active role in the European and international market through its technologi- cal involvement in international aeronautical pro- grams.
ΗΑι’s involvement in upgrading the F-16s to Viper level, with the manufacturer’s approval, sig- nified that Greece has the infrastructure, human resources, and expertise for programs of strategic importance.
HAI ought not to merely observe developments. With the continuous development of UAVs—like the “Archytas”—and its entry into new fields, like