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On Thursday 19 and Friday 20 April 2018, the proceedings of the 6th Air Power Conference, entitled "The Strategic Value of Air Power", were held at the Amphitheater of the Ikaros School "Lieutenant Commander (I) Nikolaos Sialmas", at the Dhekelia Air Base, in Tatoi, and were opened by the Minister of National Defense, Mr. Panos Kammenos.

At the opening of the conference, the Chief of the Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (I) Christos Christodoulou, delivered a welcome address, while speakers included, among others, the Ambassador of the United States of America to Greece, Mr. Geoffrey R. Pyatt, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Sir James Everard, the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee, General Michael Kostarakos (EUMC), as well as the Chief of the Air Force General Staff of Italy, Lieutenant General Enzo Vecciarelli.

The conference speakers addressed issues that shape both the present and future of Air Power, covering a broad range of topics, ranging from security and technology issues – including media, cyberwarfare, UAVs and space – to the role and European perception of Air Power.

The conference was attended by the Air Force Leadership, honorary Chiefs, members of the Academic Community, Defense Attachés, Delegations of Allied Countries and Armed Forces executives.

The Minister of National Defense made the following statement:
"Today is a very important day for the Air Force. For the third consecutive year, we have organized in Greece, on behalf of the Air Force General Staff, the annual Air Power Conference, with very important guests from friendly and allied countries, the diplomatic and academic world.
Of course, this coincides with the week of mourning for the Greek Armed Forces, for our homeland, for the loss of Giorgos Baltadoros who fell fighting in peacetime, for faith and homeland, like Iliakis, Sialmas and other heroes of our Air Force.
Greece, with the latest decisions of the KYSEA and the Staffs, is essentially turning into a large aviation center. Kalamata is turning into perhaps the largest aviation military academy in Europe. At the same time, all the necessary actions are being taken, which will be announced very soon, in order to facilitate General Aviation.
Due to the special weather conditions prevailing in our homeland, Greece can be the Florida of Europe for the General and Air Force. There are already requests from many Middle Eastern countries and their air forces to train pilots and technical personnel here. I believe that this step will greatly help in the development of the Air Force and General Aviation." (Source GEA)

Greetings from the Chief of the General Staff
ΑHonorable Minister of Defense, Honorable Ambassadors, Generals,
Commanders and Commanders, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a great honor for me to welcome you to the 6th Conference
Air Power. This conference has become an institution for the Hellenic Air Force over the last six years and has evolved into an international event, which is addressed to military personnel, politicians, the academic community and representatives of the Defense Industries. Everyone
We, who have been invited either as guests or as speakers, participate in the conference in order to promote and exchange views and share ideas and challenges related to Air Power and its special role in the Alliance.
The 2018 Air Power Conference is dedicated to the memory of Captain (I) Georgios Baltadoros, who gave his life for our Homeland last Thursday. Let us observe a minute of silence in memory of Captain (I) Georgios Baltadoros.
There is no doubt that Air Power is a means of projecting power and a "tool" of Strategic Importance in the hands of the Commander, which can be utilized to achieve multiple results, ranging from broadcasting political
messages to the projection of immediate and rapid military force. There are times and circumstances in which Air Power proves to be the only credible and acceptable military option available to governments. It has proven to be particularly successful and is consciously considered a low-risk, low-loss option.
Air Power, by its very nature, traditionally utilizes advanced technologies, such as agile aircraft with data fusion capabilities, passive sensors, smart weapons, advanced data links, communication and satellite systems, as well as modern airborne electronic warfare systems.
All these are technological achievements that have been utilized by the Air Force in order to support Participatory Operations and achieve precision attacks, in terms of space and time, with significant strategic results. High technology combined with realistic training, appropriate technical and logistical support, optimal development and exploitation of available resources, constitute structural components of Air Power, capable of influencing combined Operations, in order to achieve the final goal.
Questions and issues such as "what is the role of Air Power in an era of uncertainty", "What is the European perception of Air Operations", "How can Combined Air Power be the vehicle for partnership within the Armed Forces", "what are the new security issues that we must address", "what is the role of the media, cyberwarfare in Air Power", "How can Air Power exploit and use Space?" are some of the crucial issues that will be presented and discussed during the conference.
I am sure that during the work of the Conference, we will have the opportunity to discuss new ideas and reach useful conclusions. I am confident that your presence today will contribute decisively to managing the challenges of our forces, as well as to highlighting the Strategic Value of Air Power.
In closing, I ask the Minister of Defense, Mr. Panos Kammenos, to open the proceedings of the 6th Air Power Conference.
Thank you

Opening Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCjlnh386zM
Video of the American Ambassador's Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp_H23b6CaM