On Friday, February 17, 2017, the 5th Air Power Conference was concluded, in the auditorium of the HAF Academy, at Dekeleia Air Base, Athens, under the title “Air Power in a Contested Environment”.
The objective of the conference is to show and inform guests on the operational abilities of the Hellenic Air Force through the exchange of knowledge and innovative ideas, the analysis of certain challenges noticed in contemporary environments and their effects on the character and nature of the Air Force as a weapon.
During the conference, issues such as the transformation of the Air Force, the air operations at cross-environment, technology and its role in the National Defence as well as critical air issues were discussed.
The opening speaker of the Conference was the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis HN, while greetings were expressed by the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General Christos Christodoulou.
Amongst those who spoke in the Conference were Admiral (ret.) James Stavridis (former SACEUR and Dean of The Fletcher School, Tufts University), the chiefs of the Spanish and United Arab Emirates Air Force, the Commander of the Air Headquarters in RAMSTEIN, the chief of the Tactical Air Force of the Hellenic Air Force, the commander of the Air Operations Command of the German Air Force and the representative of the Chief of the French Air Force.
| Lieutenant General Christos Christodoulou, Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff | Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis HN, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff | Admiral (ret.) James Stavridis (former SACEUR and Dean of The Fletcher School, Tufts University, Medford, USA) | Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis, Chief of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force (HTAF) |
| Air Gen. F. Javier Garcia Arnaiz Chief of Spanish Air Force | Br. Gen. Rashed Al Shamsi United Arab Emirates Air Force Deputy Commander | Gen. Tod D. Wolters Commander of the Air Headquarters in Ramstein | Lt Gen. J. Wundrak, Executive Director JAPCC & Com Air Ops Command (German Air Force) |
| Dr. Peter W. Gray, Air Commodore RAF (ret.) | Air Commodore Frans Osinga (RNeAF) | Prof. Phil Sabin (King’s College London) | Lt Col. Andre Haider (JAPCC) |
| Col. M. Fakitsas (HAFGS) | Col. P. Kyriafinis (HAFSC) | Mr. D. Plessas (Lockheed Martin) | Prof. P. Pilidis (Cranfield University) |
| Mr. T. Rozolis (Hellenic Association of Defense Equipment Manufacturers) | Prof. S. Pantelakis (University of Patras) | Col. P. Kyriafinis (HAFSC) | Prof. A. Liaropoulos (University of Pireaus) |
| Jean-Louis Montel (Dassault Aviation) | Lt. Col. K. Zikidis (HAFSC) Maj A. Gkioles (SJWC) | Dr. Christian F. Anrig | Prof. D. Bourantas (Athens University of Economics) |
| Maj A. Gkioles (SJWC) | Br. Gen. Ath. Savvopoulos (HAFGS/A1 Director) |
- 5th Air Power Conference – Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff speech (video)
- 5th Air Power Conference – Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff opening speech (video)
Lectures of 1st day
1st Session – “AIR FORCE TRANSFORMATION”
- Admiral (ret.) James Stavridis (former SACEUR and Dean of The Fletcher School, Tufts University, Medford, USA) – (video)
- Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis, Chief of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force (HTAF) – (video)
- Air Gen. F. Javier Garcia Arnaiz Chief of Spanish Air Force – (video)
- Br. Gen. Rashed Al Shamsi United Arab Emirates Air Force Deputy Commander – (video)
- Gen. Tod D. Wolters Commander of the Air Headquarters in Ramstein – (video)
- Lt Gen. J. Wundrak, Executive Director JAPCC & Com Air Ops Command (German Air Force)
- 1st Session discussion – Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis, Chief of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force (HTAF)
2nd Session – “AIR OPERATIONS IN JOINT ENVIRONMENT”
- The Application of Air Power in Pursuit of National Security – Dr. Peter W. Gray, Air Commodore RAF (ret.) – (video)
- Rediscovering Air Warfare: The Challenges for European Airpower – Air Commodore Frans Osinga (RNeAF) – (video)
- Air Power in Asymmetric Warfare -Prof. Phil Sabin (King’s College London)
- RPAS in Joint and Air Operations – Lt Col. Andre Haider (JAPCC)
- 2nd Session discussion – Col. M. Fakitsas (HAFGS)
Lectures of 2nd day
3rd Session – “TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION”
- Technology – An Important Factor in Defence – Col. P. Kyriafinis (HAFSC) – (video)
- Next Generation Fighter – Mr. D. Plessas (Lockheed Martin)
- New Trends in Aircraft Maintenance – Prof. P. Pilidis (Cranfield University) – (video)
- Hellenic Defence Industry: The Way Ahead – Mr. T. Rozolis (Hellenic Association of Defense Equipment Manufacturers)
- Dealing with Aging Fleet: Risks and Opportunities – Prof. S. Pantelakis (University of Patras)
- 3rd Session discussion- Col. P. Kyriafinis (HAFSC)
4th Session – “CRITICAL AIR ISSUES”
- Intelligence Pathology and Decision Making – Prof. A. Liaropoulos (University of Pireaus)
- Next Generation Fighter – Jean-Louis Montel (Dassault Aviation) – (video)
- The Stealth Threat – Lt. Col. K. Zikidis (HAFSC) – (video) – Maj A. Gkioles (SJWC) – (video)
- Emerging Technologies that will Shape the Future of the Air Force – Dr. Christian F. Anrig – (video)
- Leader’s Captivator – Prof. D. Bourantas (Athens University of Economics) – (video)
- 4th Session discussion – Maj A. Gkioles (SJWC)
- Closing Remarks – Br. Gen. Ath. Savvopoulos (HAFGS/A1 Director) – (video)
- Conference Conclusion – Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis, Chief of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force (HTAF) – (video)
