Greece has signed deals with Boeing and NH Industries for AH-64D attack helicopters and NH90 utility machines for the army. The Greek defence ministry announced its intention to acquire the helicopters late last year and the deals are worth €1.27 billion ($1.4 billion).
The NH90 deal is worth €657 million and covers 20helicopters, with deliveries due between late 2005 and 2008.
Greece has selected the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engine for its NH90s, 16 of which will be for tactical transport and the other four for special operations.
The contract includes options for 14 NH90s - 12 tactical transports and two special operations variants - that must be converted within a year. If ordered, these machines would be delivered in 2008-10, says NHI.
Hellenic Aircraft Industry and other Greek companies will benefit from an offset agreement that includes transfer of carbonfibre composite technology.
Boeing's $675 million deal covers 12 AH-64Ds and four options that will be handed over in the first quarter of 2007. The Apache contract also includes the Northrop Grumman/Lockheed Martin Longbow radar and the new Lockheed Martin Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight. Greece is expected to specify BAE Systems' HIDAS electronic warfare suite for its AH-64Ds (Flight International, 14-20 January).
Industrial offset is a key part of the NH90 deal. "Around 2% to 3% of the production will be Greek," says NHI commercial manager Alain Gauthier. This includes production of the rear cargo ramp and carbonfibre components for all 20 aircraft.
Greece is the ninth European customer for the NH90, which has 325 firm orders and 86 options. NHI is owned 62.5% by Eurocopter, 32% by AgustaWestland and 5.5% by Stork Fokker.
Source: Flight International
