The Minister of National Defence N. Dendias attends a HAFGS event honouring the social contribution of the Hellenic Air Force, at the 112 Combat Wing

The Minister of National Defence N. Dendias attends a HAFGS event honouring the social contribution of the Hellenic Air Force, at the 112 Combat Wing

November 7, 2025

On Wednesday 05 November 2025, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendiasattended an event honouring the social contribution of the Hellenic Air Force, which was organised by the Hellenic Air Force General Staff at the 112 Combat Wing, in Eleusis, in the framework of the celebrations honouring the Archangel Michael, Patron Saint of the Air Force.

The Minister of National Defence, accompanied by the Chief/HAFGS, Lieutenant General (Pilot) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, was initially briefed by the Commanding General of the Hellenic Air Force Support Command, Major General Vasilios Broumas, and the Commanding General of the 112 Combat Wing, Brigadier General Euthymios Simitzis, on the mission and task of aerial fire extinguishing, air evacuations and search and rescuemissions, as well as matters of maintenance, availability, and readiness of the aerial fire extinguishing assets of the Hellenic Air Force.

He also had the opportunity to inspect the fleet of C-130 and C-27J transport aircraft and Super Puma helicopters, arrayed in formation on the "Elephant Walk" runway. It is worth reminding that the fleet has been considerably reinforced subsequent to the maintenance and repair works of recent years, multiplying the Air Force's operational capabilities, as well as its capability of contributing to society.

The event was also attended by C Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Athanasios Bouras, as Representative of the Speaker of the Parliament, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Giorgos Kotsiras, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, General (ret.) Evangelos Tournas, the MPs Nikos Panagiotopoulos, Sophia Voultepsi, Vasilis Ypsilantis, Evangelos Liakos, Michalis Katrinis, Stavros Michailidis, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Nikos Papaefstathiou, Mayors and representatives of Regional and Local Self-government, representatives of the Chiefs of General Staffs, of the Security Forces and the Chief of the National Guard, Honorary Chiefs, General and Senior Officers of the Armed and Security Forces.

Mr Dendias pointed out in his address:

"It is an honour for me to be here, yet again, at the 112 Combat Wing, in Eleusis, in the framework of the celebrations for the feast of Archangel Michael, Patron Saint of our Air Force.

Today, and throughout these celebratory events, we honour those who guard the Greek skies, and embody, as the Chief/HAFGS very insightfully pointed out, the ideal of contribution to the Country.

Also, we showcase something obvious: The broader, human-centred character of our Air Force's task. A dimension which renders it, throughout time, a guardian of the life, property and natural wealth of our Country, Greece.

And it is here, in Eleusis, at the 112 Combat Wing, that the heart of this important mission beats. For it is this very mission that is tied with unbreakable bonds to the other mission of our Air Force, our Country's defence.

This Wing demonstrates the capability daily, the will to support society wherever needed, 24/7, all year round.

From the beginning of this year, 2025, to this day,1164 missions of aerial fire extinguishing have been carried out, 2637 flight hours, and 1372 - even more - air evacuation missions, more than 4000 flight hours performed, 2148 patients air evacuated, and 33 transplants have been transported for our fellow citizens.

These facts are not a mere statistic. We are talking about humans, human lives, our fellow human beings.

These numbers serve to measure the huge contribution of the Armed Forces to the National Health System and Greek society.

As you know - my dear colleague and friend Nikos Panagiotopoulos knows best of all, - an effort for the rebirth of our transport aircraft fleet has begun many years since. The beginning had many difficulties, as he would have told you. Even legal ones, to a degree.

Today however, on Eleusis runway, we see the visible outcome of this effort. I have to tell you that I was overjoyed, since I can clearly remember the days - not long ago - when we had no C-130s and one or no C-27s available. Yet today, we saw 10 transport aircraft, 5+5, on Eleusis runway.

Also, there are two more aircraft, currently undergoing regular maintenance. That makes a total of 12 aircraft.

And the Super Pumas - you saw two flying over the runway - have reached a total availability of seven. Two of which are also undergoing regular maintenance.

A different reality. The country has regained a transport aircraft fleet. Capabilities of supporting operations, efforts, people, lives, properties.

We can now support the presence of our Country's Armed Forces beyond the narrow confines of our national borders, wherever our interests call us, and wherever the principles and values of Greece and humanism do so.

As the Chief/HAFGS implied earlier, the long-term armaments Programme of this 12-year period provides for the procurement of a number of new transport aircraft, in order to broaden this capability of ours.

Besides, as you know, the procurement of new fire extinguishing aircraft, the "515s", as well as the technical upgrade of the "415s", through the "AEGIS" programme is ongoing in the meanwhile.

All these are chapters, choices of the "Agenda 2030".

When the "Agenda 2030" is completed, our Country will possess 200 modern fighting platforms, magnitudes more powerful than what we have hereto fielded. That is, a new, important chapter in our Country's air might, which can be combined with new anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, and - for the first time in our history - with a turn to unmanned systems. Ladies and gentlemen, I am definitely no airman. Yet, one need not be to realise the obvious: Within the next twenty years, everything will change, including the air.

For this reason we need to evolve and change, in order to maintain the necessary deterrence capability in the air. For it is not only a matter of assets, as it was very correctly put, but rather a matter of a broader perception.

And these Armed Forces, these evolved Armed Forces, which will have changed, ought not only be militarily mighty. They ought to be socially sensitive. They ought to be socially present. The Armed Forces ought to be humane. They ought to stand at the citizen's side, at every trial. Thus, their broader role is demonstrated.

For the State owes its support to the Greek citizen. As also - why hide it - the State owes support to the cadre of the Armed Forces, of the Air Force.

The new pay rate, which we hope will be passed in November, and apply retroactively from the 1^stof October, the special flight pay for pilots, the full reimbursement for night duty of our technical staff, targeted care interventions, are acts of recognition of this great effort, albeit in need of broadening.

I would also like to make a special mention. On this day, our thoughts go out to those who are not among us anymore. I would like to take this opportunity to express my condolences, on behalf, not only of all present, not only of the Government or Parliament, but also of all Greeks, to the families of the officers whom we have lost. Those, that is, who "fell" while fulfilling their duty. I particularly mention our 166 pilots, who have fallen from 1974 to this day. A large number which demonstrates the particularity, the danger, but also the dedication to the fulfilment of duty, even while under the harshest conditions. Their memory is a sacred legacy to the Air Force and the Country and a reminder to all of the duty of safeguarding the sky and the Country.

I am addressing our personnel. Ladies and Gentlemen, I tell you that your sufficiency, your readiness, your professionalism, form the solid foundation of the trust which connects the Armed Forces with the societal whole.

And this mission of yours demonstrates this double role of the Armed Forces: Enemy deterrence and contribution to society. In an ever-changing environment nonetheless, as I mentioned previously.

I would like to congratulate all our pilots and technical staff, working with great care, and often ceaselessly, so that all the assets we dispose of due to the Greek taxpayer's hard-earned money, are ready to contribute to the task of fire extinguishing, the task of air evacuations and the task of search and rescue.

To stand, that is, by the side of every Greek citizen, to envelop Greece and the Greeks like the Archangel's wings.

Thank you very much".