The 1st F-16 aircraft that has undergone structural upgrade by Hellenic Aerospace Industry based on the CCIP/STAR program was delivered today to the United States Air Force during a ceremony that was held at the company facilities in Tanagra.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of political and military authorities, representatives of U.S. Embassy  Greece, representatives of the U.S Government headed by the Deputy Commander Defence Contract Management Agency Mr. Steve Trautwein,  the USAFE Representative and Chief of Aircraft Maintenance  Colonel Dorothy Silvanic, officials of the U.S. Air Force and officials of the US Hill Air Force Base, Yutah headed by the Deputy Director Mrs. Dawn Sutton,  representatives of the defense cooperation office headed by the office Commander Mr. Steve Boukedes, representatives of Lockheed Martin Aero.

In his speech during the Ceremony the Chairman of the Board of HAI, Mr. Kyriakos Linakis underlined among others that: «Today HAI is delivering the first of the 94 aircraft. HAI is committed to work under the same consistency and professionalism until the program is completed, and at the same time keep its focus on becoming one of the most competitive and productive companies in the field. I believe that HAI being the largest defense and aerospace company in the country is performing well according to the program specifications and is well prepared to cope with future challenges in the world market».

The HAI CEO, Mr Tassos Philippakos in his speech stated that: «The CCIP/STAR program award to HAI placed the company at the lead of international competition, considering the fact that more European companies had submitted proposals, seeking to win the contract. Within just the first six months after the award of the contract, all the necessary aircraft inductions and preparation work was completed. It was a titanic effort, which required new infrastructure, new processes, special training and also considerable investment. HAI has met all the strict and time pressing contractual schedule requirements and with its excellent quality performance, HAI proved that it does deserve the confidence shown even by its most demanding customers. 
It also proved that it is worthy of the U.S. Air Force recognition as the latter’s most competitive and effective partner engaged in the implementation of this particularly demanding effort. We will move ahead with the implementation of the program until the very last day of its completion keeping the same pace, the same reliability, the same quality».

Speaking on behalf of the Defence Contract Management Agency Mr. Steve Trautwein, Deputy Coomander of DCMA Southern Europe Mr. Steve Trautwein stated that: «DCMA is especially pleased with the sound policies, procedures and processes put in place by HAI in time to enable a level of confidence on a par with other world class aerospace facilities.  HAI should be proud of their accomplishments and today’s ceremony is fitting recognition of your efforts

The USAFE representative, Colonel Dorothy Silvanic addressed the event stating that: «We are the grateful recipients of the efforts of Hellenic Aerospace Industry as you perform the Falcon Star and CCIP modifications on USAFE’s F-16 aircraft. There was a tremendous amount of hard work on the part of HAI and System Program Office at Hill Air Force Base and it is wonderful to see that hard work pays dividends. 

The U.S. Hill Air Force Base, Yutah representative Mrs. Dawn Sutton also addressed the event stating that: «HAI did an outstanding job, accomplishing this complex modification, on an aggressive time schedule”.

The scope of the Common Configuration Implementation Program / STAR program involves the structural and avionics upgrading of 94 USAFE F-16 fighter aircraft and it was awarded to HAI in April 2007.
This is one of the most important contracts won by HAI, since apart from contributing to the company’s gaining additional international recognition of the excellent quality of its services and products and increasing its momentum within the defense and aerospace market, it is also benefits from positioning HAI for the extensive up grade market world wide and from the enhanced technical know-how and infrastructure with additional facilities, through which the company is strengthening its competitiveness and better placing itself as a reliable partner within the global market.

During the program implementation HAI had all the necessary valuable support of Lockheed Martin AERO. Lockheed Martin had also financed the construction of HAI’s Dry Stripping Factory which was inaugurated on January 2008. The Dry Stripping Factory is one of the largest infrastructures which where created on the occasion of this program and they will be useful for other program as well.