'Peace Icarus'
Upgrade Supplies Hellenic Air Force With Most Powerful F-4 Phantom Aircraft Worldwide
Athens, 01 October 2000
The current "Peace Icarus 2000" upgrade program will dramatically improve the mission effectiveness, sensor and weapon delivery capabilities both for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions for a total of 36 F-4E Phantoms in the inventory of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF). After fierce competition, the Military Aircraft Business Unit of the European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company (EADS, Munich) was awarded the "Peace Icarus 2000" contract, which officially started after arrival of the HAF aircraft in Germany in autumn 1997.
After 15 months of intensive work by an integrated team of EADS, HAF and Hellenic Aircraft Industry (HAI) members in EADS' Ottobrunn and Manching plants, the electrical and avionics systems to improve the navigational precision and the operational effectiveness (a.o., by integration of an advanced radar, mission computer, navigation and communication systems, radar altimeter, identification friend/foe) have been totally modified. In addition, the entire cockpit-layout has been brought to state-of-the-art technology, including new multi-function color displays. The new hardware is accompanied by a powerful software package which ensures full exploitation of the new components installed, as well as the continued usage of conventional external stores. Thus, the latest F-4E version for the HAF now can deliver a broad variety of intelligent stand-off air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons like AMRAAM, Maverick, Dispensers, a Laser Designator Pod and Laser-guided bombs.
"Peace Icarus 2000" was developed by EADS (formerly Dasa) in close cooperation with the Greek partners HAF and HAI, and Elbit of Israel. The program is based on the experience which EADS gained after the successful conclusion of a similar but less sophisticated modernisation program for 146 Phantoms of the German Air Force.
EADS expects the entire modification program to be concluded by 2001, in line with the challenging schedule planned way back in 1997. HAI is performing the upgrade of 35 HAF Phantoms in their Tanagra factory in Greece with support from EADS. The first aircraft within the "Peace Icarus 2000" program, serving as a proof-of-concept demonstrator, made its maiden flight on April 28, 1999 at EADS Manching. The first HAI-modified kit-proof aircraft rolled out at Tanagra on March 3rd, 2000. With the modernisation completed, the Hellenic Air Force will then operate the most effective and powerful F-4 version of the more than 1,000 Phantom aircraft fleet in service with many air forces all over the world. The spirit of partnership shown in this successful modernisation program for the EU and NATO partner Greece also laid the fundament for the Hellenic Air Force and the Greek government to procure 60 Eurofighter aircraft plus 30 options.
Athens, October 2000
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Military Aircraft
Wolfram Wolff
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E-Mail: wolfram.wolff@m.eads.net
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