Israel and Greece have signed the largest defense deal ever between them, the Israeli Defense Ministry said today, quoted by Reuters.
The agreement includes a $ 1.65 billion contract to set up and operate a training center for the Greek Air Force by the Israeli company Elbit Systems Ltd. for a period of 22 years, the Israeli Defense Ministry said.
The training center will be modeled on the Israeli Flight Academy and will be equipped with 10 M-346 training aircraft manufactured by the Italian company Leonardo, the ministry said.
Elbit will supply equipment for the modernization of Greek T-6 aircraft, as well as provide training, simulators and logistical support.
“I am confident that (this program) will increase the capacity and strength of the economies of Israel and Greece and thus the partnership between our two countries will deepen at the defense, economic and political levels,” said Israeli Defense Minister Benny Ganz.
The announcement comes after a meeting in Cyprus on Friday between the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Cyprus and Israel, who agreed to deepen co-operation between their countries, Reuters reported.
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