Greece could delay a request for proposals for advanced jet trainers by a year to the second half of 2010 due to budget constraints brought about by the global economic crisis.
Sources at the Paris air show say that the country had planned to issue a request for proposals in the second half of 2009, but the indications from government officials are that this will slip. Athens needs to replace over 40 Rockwell T-2 Buckeyes that it introduced from the 1950s.
The contenders are likely to include the Aero Vodochody L-159BAT, Alenia Aermacchi M-346, BAE Systems Hawk and Korea Aerospace Industries T-50. Athens is part of the slow-moving Advanced European Jet Pilot Training programme, but observers believe that the urgent nature of its requirement would not have allowed it to wait for the aircraft. Further delays, however, could bring that back into contention.
The Greek air force's original requirement calls for the training of 58 student pilots a year, with an initial operational capability sought during 2010 - five years before the multinational system is expected to reach the same milestone.
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Source: Flight Daily News
