The Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, attended the anniversary event for the completion of 50 years of the F-4 fighter aircraft, known as the Phantom, in the service of the Air Force, held at the 117th Fighter Wing (117 AM), at Andravida Air Base , pointing out that this is “an important day for our Air Force.

It marks the celebration of half a century of service for the F-4 Phantom aircraft. But today we celebrate something else, just as important: The transition to a new era, the era of the F-35, the most modern aviation platform on the planet today”.

At the same time, stating that “the F-4 has successfully completed its mission”, Mr. Dendias announced that “he will continue to provide in other ways: First of all, by providing his weapons to new, newer air platforms” while “the its experienced human resources” will be utilized “in other positions, covering operational needs, according to the recommendations of the General Aviation Staff. Funds of approximately 30 million per year will be saved, and we will use for our needs 228 technicians and 17 operators, valuable and absolutely necessary personnel,” he added.

As for the F-35s “that will be hosted here at the Andravida air base, whose facilities will be radically upgraded” o Mr. Dendias said that “with the acquisition of the F-35, we are taking a solid step towards the future, which is financed by the backlog of the Greek people, every Greek woman and every Greek man.

I fully understand, as a member of the government, the reservations expressed by some about the high cost of purchasing the F-35 aircraft. But the cost of national independence, the cost of protecting sovereignty and sovereign rights, at the end of the day the cost of freedom, cannot be measured in money alone and there can be no development and prosperity if the country is not safe, if she doesn’t have the ability to defend herself” he remarked.

“I think that if we follow the news of the last few days and the anxious effort of other countries in our region, not necessarily countries that have no claims against Greece, to participate in the F-35 program, we all realize how correct the decision was government to proceed with the purchase of this state-of-the-art platform.

A platform that gives our country an advantage, a quality superiority in the continuous, timeless effort to ensure our independence, sovereignty and sovereign rights. The F-35 platform will ensure that in the future the Hellenic Air Force will continue to be among the most modern air forces in the world. And that he will be able, as in the past, so in the future, to effectively defend the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Greece” said the minister and continued:

“Andravida is entering a new era today, an era of reorganization and major upgrading of the new facilities, the conditions for the F-35. We thus ensure not only the future of the Base, the Squadron, but something much broader, more important: that Greece will remain strong, strong, a stable and reliable factor of peace in the region, a factor that promotes security in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean” .

Referring to today’s celebration, Mr. Dendias pointed out that the “F-4 Phantom has effectively served the Air Force of our country. It highlighted and strengthened our capabilities, our deterrent power. We all recognize that dispatching crews over the years has been difficult. It took bravery, it took professionalism and self-sacrifice many times, to maintain these assets for half a century, to be able to have the necessary maximum operational availability”, he emphasized and congratulated and thanked on behalf of the government, all those who served as commanders – among whom was the present oldest living commander of the 117th Fighter Wing, retired vice-winger Vasilios Tsaousis – for their contribution to the country, all the flying and technical personnel of the 117th Fighter Wing for their unceasing response with competence to the high tasks. “They made a decisive contribution to the defense of national rights, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greece,” he specifically noted.

At the same time, he made special mention of the 24 fallen pilots “who sacrificed their lives defending our homeland and create for all of us an ark of sacred inheritance. A reminder of the obligation of all of us, regardless, to preserve what was handed down to us and what we created, i.e. the entirety of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of our homeland, in accordance with the Constitution and our traditions.”

Mr. Dendias attended the eulogy and memorial service, as well as a historical video showing training and operational activities of the legendary F-4 fighter jets and toured the grounds of 338 Squadron.

The Minister of National Defense was accompanied by General Dimitrios Houpis, the Chief of the Defense Forces, and General Demosthenes Grigoriadis, the Chief of the Defense Forces.

The event was also attended by the Deputy Minister of Citizen Protection Andreas Nikolakopoulos, the Member of Parliament of Ilia Dionysia Zisimos-Augerinopoulou, the Chief of Tactical Air Force Lt. Gen. Panagiotis Georgakopoulos, the Greek Ambassador to the United Kingdom Ioannis Tsaoussis together with his father, Lt. Gen. Vasilios Tsaoussi, honorary leaders of GEA and ATA, acting commanders and executives who successfully served in 338M, relatives of fallen pilots, and representatives of the Church and self-government.