Between May 10 and 15, the first two brand new M-346s, the new state-of-the-art training aircraft in which the Air Force's Ikari will train, will arrive in Greece.
According to newpost and Kostas Sarikas, the two new M-346s are these days completing their final tests at the facilities of the Italian manufacturer Leonardo and are expected to fly to their new "nest" in Kalamata.
A new era in the education of Ikari
The new M-346 trainers are coming to replace the aging T-2E Buckeyes which made history in the training of the Greek Ikars for almost fifty years as they have been the main training aircraft of our Air Force since 1976 with the HAF now being the last worldwide user.
The two M-346s painted in the "colors" of the Air Force are completing their flight tests and will be in Greece before the elections, with the Ministry of National Defense preparing a special ceremony for their reception.
The program is moving rapidly and already 120 PEA personnel are being trained on the new type of aircraft. Since last September, 20 Air Force technicians have traveled to Leonardo's facility in Milan, Italy to be trained in supporting each of the aircraft's systems, while six airmen have completed their training on Elbit Systems' simulators in Israel. With the arrival of the two M-346s, the pilots will continue their training in Kalamata by the company's personnel to become trainers themselves.
With the arrival of the M-346s, the training of the Greek Ikars moves into a new era. Air Force aviators will prepare for the transition to the F-16 Viper, Rafale and F-35 through a state-of-the-art platform that offers highly realistic operational conditions, combining the unique flight characteristics of the aircraft with state-of-the-art technology on the ground and air. At the same time, a grid of interconnected simulators and training stations on the ground will enable training in complex scenarios involving a large number of aircraft, surface units and ground forces.
At the same time, in Kalamata, the work of converting the 120th Air Training Wing into a modern training center continues at an intensive pace. The training building where the modern simulators will be installed is already under construction, while the supply building has already been completed. In addition, other works are in progress for the reception and hosting of the M-346 which, among other things, include the construction of sheds for the total of 10 training vehicles which will be received in the next period. The aim is to start training new pilots immediately without missing a single day.
