Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between leading global defence and aerospace company BAE Systems and Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), the largest defence and aerospace manufacturers in Greece, HAI will become involved in the manufacture, further development and marketing of one of the world’s most advanced long range maritime radar systems—High Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HFSWR).

Under the terms of the MoU, HAI will lead on all regional marketing activities for BAE Systems’ over the horizon maritime surveillance radar. The company will also take responsibility for the manufacture and integration of the technology with existing operational systems and command and control technology (C2). The two partners anticipate potential international and domestic sales of more than €20 M over the next two to three years.

As a result of this new alliance, HAI will offer an integrated maritime surveillance solution, combining the long-range surveillance capabilities of HFSWR with the short-range surveillance of equipment already in service. The company will also oversee the integration of the SPIDER multi-sensor situational awareness C2 system.

In announcing the agreement, Alastair Imrie, BAE Systems executive committee member, said, “This agreement recognises the high level of skills and capabilities of the HAI workforce, with whom we have had a developing relationship since March this year. BAE Systems is proud of its reputation for delivering mutually beneficial industrial partnerships and I look forward to a long and successful relationship with the HAI team.”

Welcoming the agreement, HAI chief executive, Tassos Phillipakos, added, “Signing this MoU means that HAI and BAE Systems will combine their respective skills in order to create new abilities for developing, producing and delivering integrated surveillance solutions, incorporating HFSWR technology. Also, with this cooperation, both companies will have the opportunity to expand their business activities worldwide by taking advantage of all the new financial and technological opportunities that are going to be offered by promoting this product.”