The MBDA-systems company, in its announcement, states that it strengthens its close relationship with Greece with a contract for the mid-life renovation (MLR) of the SCALP missiles of the Hellenic Air Force, signed on May 11, 2023.
The contract was signed by Admiral Aristidis Alexopoulos, Director General of Defense Investments and Equipment of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense and Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA.
This MLR contract is dedicated to the SCALP missiles of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) and includes the supply of mission planning products, maintenance and technical assistance.
This will extend the weapon's operational superiority against future threats. Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “The signing of this contract is particularly significant for MBDA, coming 55 years after we signed our first Exocet contract with Greece. Our commitment has since never wavered and we are especially honored by this additional expression of confidence by the Hellenic Air Force in MBDA for the mid-life refurbishment of these SCALP missiles. This again reinforces our commitment to continue to provide key dominant capabilities that provide the best solutions to meet the requirements of the Hellenic Armed Forces customer."
The SCALP missile currently equips the Hellenic Air Force's Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale fighter jets. The missiles involved in this mid-term overhaul were ordered as part of the initial weapons package for the Mirage 2000-5. Further SCALP missiles were ordered by Greece as part of the weapons packages for the 18 Rafales ordered in 2021 and the additional six Rafales ordered in 2022.
SCALP-EG missiles belong to the category of cruise missiles. Their acquisition contract was signed in 2000 together with the contract for the purchase of Mirage-2000-5Mk2 aircraft. Initially, it provided for the acquisition of 56 missiles, which subsequently became around 90 through the option.
SCALP-EG is 5.1m long. and a wingspan of 3m, but it is heavier than the Apache at around 1,300kg although the payload it carries weighs 450kg. The radius of action of the Greek configuration is a closely guarded secret: It is forbidden to be more than 500 km under the Treaty on the Limitation of Intermediate-Range Weapons in Europe, but everyone knows that "it can be longer...".
Thus, the BROACH type charge can penetrate concrete thicker than 6m. or penetrate deeper than 9m into the ground and strike well-protected targets. They have a hit accuracy of the order of 2m!
We said that the weapons we buy as a country, we take them to use, when there will be no possibility of a diplomatic solution beforehand, or the Turks will have invaded Greek territory in the Aegean.
The Aegean islands have been targeted by the Turks for many years, and we must change that once and for all.
