The 114th Fighter Wing, (114 AM) in Tanagra was visited by the Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos and his French counterpart Sebastian Lecorny, after the end of their official talks held yesterday at the Ministry of National Defense.

The two ministers went to the headquarters of the 332 All Weather Squadron, where the Air Force’s modern 4.5 generation “Rafale” fighter jets are in service. There was a detailed presentation and update on the history, activity and mission of the Squadron that has the modern “Rafale” and highlight the Air Force as one of the strongest in Europe and the Mediterranean, which contributes to the flexibility of national diplomacy and the multifaceted alliances of the country.

According to information, Mr. Panagiotopoulos commented in his brief intervention that the activity of the 332nd IPC seals the defense alliance between Greece and France, giving new life to the perspective of European strategic autonomy.

For his part, Mr. Lekorny, in his short but particularly warm greeting, pointed out the excellent relationship, communication and cooperation he has with his Greek counterpart. In fact, he repeated that Mr. Panagiotopoulos is the only one with whom he has such frequent cooperation both at the bilateral level and at the EU and NATO level.

The same sources said that the French Minister of Defense was moved when the command of the 114 AM presented him with a set of collectible controls of French aircraft that have been used by the Air Force.

The exchange of commemorative gifts at the meeting of the two delegations at the Ministry of National Defense is noted, for which the Minister of National Defense wrote on his personal Facebook account: “The gift of friend Sebastian Lecorny is honorable as well as symbolic. The Rafale’s helmet allows the operator to engage targets simply by turning the head towards them. It is also suitable for politics.- My gift to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sébastien Lecorny, is also symbolic. Triiris was the wooden walls with which obscurantism and revisionism were defeated. Up-to-date on the challenges in our region and in Ukraine.”

After the family photo in front of 332 MPK, Messrs. Panagiotopoulos and Lekorny went to the runways of 114 AM where a two-seater Rafale and a Mirage 2000-5 were parked, the pilot of which was the first woman to graduate as an Airman from the School of Icarus. After speaking to the Airmen and Engineers, the ministers boarded the two-seater Rafale where they were briefed by a Greek and a French officer on its operational capabilities.

At the end of the briefing and discussion he had with Mr. Panagiotopoulos, Mr. Lekorny wanted to capture the moment with a selfie. “When you’re having a good time, you communicate it with a selfie. On the Rafale two-seater after being briefed on its capabilities. Unforgettable visit to 114 AM”, Mr. Panagiotopoulos wrote on his personal Facebook account, attaching the relevant photo.

Sources of the Ministry of National Defense said that the next meeting of the two ministers is expected to take place in Lorient at the end of March, where Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be given a tour of Naval Group’s shipyards and will be informed about the construction of the first FDI “Kimon” class frigate.