ATHENS, Mar 10 (Reuters) - U.S. aerospace and defence company Boeing (BA.N) hopes its next generation F-18 Super Hornet fighter will win a place in the Greek airforce, which plans to order new combat jets this year.
Greece is planning to retire its older F-4 and Corsair A-7 aircraft and with defence budgets squeezed by the global downturn, the Greek fighter jet contract is much sought after.
"Certainly, we think the Super Hornet is the right fit for the Hellenic Air Force," Boeing's Vice President for international business development Mark Kronenberg told reporters in Athens.
"For Greece it's a low-risk affordable ownership proposition. Super Hornet's lifecycle cost is very predictable, it can go 6,000 fatigue hours with no need for depo maintenance," he said.
The order by the Greek Air Force has been delayed for years by budgetary constraints following the expense of staging the 2004 Olympic Games. Simmering tensions with neighbouring Turkey have kept Greece's defence budgets high. The 2009 budget foresees 2.2 billion euros in spending on arms purchases.
In late January Defence Minister Vangelis Meimarakis said Greece would be placing an order for new fighter jets this year, without specifying the size of the order or the possible defence contractors involved.
Greece, in talks with France on the procurement of 15 Super Puma (EAD.PA) search-and-rescue helicopters, has also been approached by French officials marketing the high-tech Rafale fighter, made by Dassault Aviation (AVMD.PA).
REPLACING AIRCRAFT
Robero Valla, Boeing's Director for integrated defence systems in southern Europe said Greece may be looking to replace about 40 combat aircraft. That means Greece could be in the market with a $2 billion order.
The F-18 Super Hornet is a multi-role combat aircraft designed to complement the F-35 fighter jet and be used by the U.S. Navy until at least 2030, Boeing executives said.
Capable for all-weather precision attacks, reconnaissance, maritime strikes and air defence suppression, the F-18 has stealth technology that gives it advanced survivability.
"You can continue to insert technology in the aircraft, it's a matter of software. The Hellenic Airforce can continue to benefit for years, Greece is a premier international opportunity for Super Hornet," said F-18 Programme Director Mark Gammon.
While cost depends on the aircraft's configuration, the price of a Super Hornet is around $53.8 million -- based on the version the U.S. Navy operates.
http://www.reuters.com/article/AIRLIN/i ... 5120090310
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Super hornets are able to operate as far as Cyprus and still return to Greece without the need for Air to Air refueling and with 4 Air to Air missiles (2 sidewinder + 2 Sparrow)....
What a superpower...
