Greece Considers Purchasing S-130 After Recent Incidents

Greece is considering purchasing six new C-130s after two back-to-back unfortunate incidents. It is reported that the new aircraft to be purchased are the C-130J, which is the latest version of this legendary American transport aircraft.

Greece’s image was dealt a blow last Wednesday when C-130 aircraft with humanitarian aiddestined for Incirlik in Turkey, took off from Thessaloniki, but was forced to abort the flight due to a problem and land at Elefsina. This was preceded by another incident last spring when two C-130s were stopped for maintenance, forcing the government to request Royal Canadian Air Force assistance to transfer Greek aid to Ukraine.

A new build C-130J is priced from €100 million commercially to €115 million under the US military overseas sales program. However, even if the order is placed today, the aircraft will not be delivered earlier than in 2.5-3 years, notes cathimerini.

According to the Greek military website Armyvoice.gr, in Greece there is a serious shortage of transport aircraft of this type due to lack of maintenance. The website notes: “It is recalled that the C-130s remained unattended in the hangars of EAB Hellenic Aerospace Industry for a long time, as the company was unable to complete the project due to the lack of the necessary qualified personnel.” The only one to compete in the related international tender was the Greek company, which took the biggest burden from EAB to restore the C-130 to airworthy and operational condition.

“For unknown reasons and contrary to the national interest, the project is undermined by interests within the EAB, which is facilitated by the inaction or tolerance of the administration,” noted ArmyVoice.gr. – For seven months, qualified Greek specialists worked in the EAB hangars to maintain the C-130, “not yet receiving a single euro, not even the advance payment provided for in the relevant contract.”

Delays in obtaining the necessary spare parts are slowing down the project, and since March 2022, spare parts for the S-130 have been in bonded warehouses, awaiting receipt of the EAB, emphasized ArmyVoice.gr.

PS Isn’t it easier to pay technicians? Or in this case there will be no rollback?

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