Editing Hellenic Air Force

{{Short description|Air warfare branch of Greece's military}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name        = Hellenic Air Force
|native_name      = {{Ubl|{{lang|el|Πολεμική Αεροπορία}}|{{transliteration|el|Polemikí Aeroporía}}}}
|image            = Seal of the Hellenic Air Force.svg
|image_size       = 200px
|caption          = Hellenic Air Force badge
|start_date       = {{Start date and age|1912|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hellenic Air Force – history|url=http://www.haf.gr/en/history/history/history_5.asp|website=HAF.gr|publisher=Hellenic Air Force|access-date=29 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718212408/http://www.haf.gr/en/history/history/history_5.asp|archive-date=18 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>As a separate service branch; Army Aviation established in 1911.</ref>
|country          = {{Flag|Greece}}
|allegiance       = 
|branch           = [[Air force]]
|type             = 
|role             = [[Aerial warfare]]
|size             = Approx. 42,500 personnel<hr/>635 aircraft<hr/>8 types of air defence systems
|command_structure= [[Hellenic Armed Forces]]
|garrison         = 
|garrison_label   = 
|nickname         = HAF
|patron           = Archangels [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]] and [[Gabriel]]
|motto            = {{Ubl|{{lang-gr|Αἰὲν Ὑψικρατεῖν}}|'Always Dominate the Heights'}}
|colours          = {{legend2|#008bd0|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}{{legend2|#ffffff|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}{{legend2|#ffff00|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
|colours_label    = 
|march            = 
|mascot           = 
|anniversaries    = 8 November
|equipment        = 
|equipment_label  = 
|battles          = 
*[[Balkan Wars]]
*[[World War I]]
*[[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)]]
*[[World War II]]
*[[Air operations during the Greek Civil War]]
*[[Korean War]]
*[[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]]
*[[Operation Desert Storm]]
*[[War on Terror]]
*[[2011 military intervention in Libya]]
|decorations      = 
|battle_honours   = 
|battle_honours_label= 
|flying_hours     = 
|website          = {{Official URL}}
<!-- Commanders -->
|commander1       = Air Marshal [[Dimosthenis Grigoriadis]]
|commander1_label = Chief of Air Force General Staff
|notable_commanders= {{Ubl|Air Commodore [[Michael Moutoussis]]|Wing Commander [[Kostas Perrikos]]}}
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol_label= [[Roundel]]
|identification_symbol  = [[File:Roundel of Greece.svg|80px|alt=]]
|identification_symbol_2_label= [[Fin flash]]
|identification_symbol_2= [[File:Fin Flash of Greece.svg|80px|alt=]]
|identification_symbol_3_label= [[Aviator badge]]
|identification_symbol_3= [[File:HAF pilot wings badge.png|200px|alt=]]
<!-- Aircraft -->
|aircraft_attack= 
|aircraft_bomber=  [[F-4 Phantom II]]
|aircraft_electronic= 
|aircraft_fighter= [[F-16]], [[Dassault Rafale]], [[Mirage 2000]]
|aircraft_helicopter= [[Boeing CH-47 Chinook|CH-47]], [[NHIndustries NH90|NH90]], [[Eurocopter AS332|AS332]], [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|Bell UH-1]]
|aircraft_helicopter_attack= 
|aircraft_helicopter_cargo= 
|aircraft_helicopter_multirole=
|aircraft_helicopter_observation= 
|aircraft_helicopter_trainer= 
|aircraft_helicopter_utility= 
|aircraft_interceptor=
|aircraft_patrol= 
|aircraft_recon= [[Embraer R-99]], [[HAI Pegasus|Pegasus II]], [[IAI Eitan|Heron TP]]
|aircraft_trainer= [[Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master|M-346 Master]], [[Tecnam P2002 Sierra|P2002 Sierra]], [[Beechcraft T-6 Texan II|T-6 Texan II]], [[Rockwell T-2 Buckeye|T-2 Buckeye]],
|aircraft_transport= [[Alenia C-27J|C-27J Spartan]], [[C-130 Hercules|C-130B/H]], [[Dassault Falcon 7X|Falcon 7X]], [[Embraer ERJ-135|ERJ-135]], [[Gulfstream V]]
|aircraft_tanker= 
|aircraft_general= 
}}
{{Hellenic Air Force}}
The '''Hellenic Air Force''' ('''HAF'''; {{Lang-el|Πολεμική Αεροπορία|Polemikí Aeroporía|Military Aviation}}, sometimes abbreviated as '''ΠΑ''') is the [[air force]] of [[Greece]] (''Hellenic'' being the [[endonym]] for ''Greek'' in the [[Greek language]]).  It is considered to be one of the largest air forces in [[NATO]], and is globally placed 18th out of 139 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greeks voted best NATO pilots of the world - again!|url=https://neoskosmos.com/en/131429/greeks-voted-best-nato-pilots-of-the-world-again/|website=NEOS KOSMOS|date=2019-03-07|access-date=2021-02-25|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2018/10/08/greek-pilots-named-best-in-nato-for-2018/|title=Greek pilots named best in NATO for 2018|newspaper=Greek City Times|date=8 October 2018}}</ref>  Under the [[Kingdom of Greece]] from 1935 to 1973, it was previously known as the '''Royal Hellenic Air Force''' ('''RHAF''') ({{Lang|el|Ἑλληνικὴ Βασιλικὴ Ἀεροπορία|Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía}}).

The Hellenic Air Force is one of the three branches of the [[Greek military|Hellenic Armed Forces]], and its mission is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the [[Hellenic Army]] and the [[Hellenic Navy]], and to provide humanitarian aid in Greece and around the world.  The Hellenic Air Force includes approximately 33,000 active troops, of whom 11,750 are career [[officer]]s, 14,000 are professional [[Airman|soldiers]] (ΕΠ.ΟΠ.), 7,250 are volunteer conscripts, and 1,100 are women.  The motto of the Hellenic Air Force is the [[ancient Greek]] phrase {{Lang|el|Αἰὲν Ὑψικρατεῖν}} ({{transliteration|el|Aièn Hypsikrateîn}}, 'Always Dominate the Heights'), and the HAF emblem represents a flying eagle in front of the Hellenic Air Force [[roundel]].  The General Air Staff (GEA) is based at the Papagou Camp in the Municipality of Filothei - Psychiko of the Prefecture of Attica.

==History==
{{Main|History of the Hellenic Air Force}}

===Origins===
In 1911, the [[Greek Government]] appointed French specialists to form the '''Hellenic Aviation Service'''.  Six Greek officers were sent to France for training, while the first four Farman type aircraft were ordered.  All six graduated from the Farman school in [[Étampes]] near [[Paris]], but only four subsequently served in aviation.  The first Greek civilian aviator that was given military rank was [[Emmanuel Argyropoulos]], who flew in a [[Nieuport IV|Nieuport IV.G.]] 'Alkyon' aircraft, on 8 February 1912.  The first military flight was made on 13 May 1912, by Lieutenant [[Dimitrios Kamberos]].  In June, Kamberos flew with the 'Daedalus', a [[Farman Aviation Works]] aircraft that had been converted into a [[seaplane]], setting a new average speed world record at {{Convert|110|km/h|0|abbr=off}}.  In September of the same year, the [[Greek Army]] fielded its first squadron, the 'Aviators Company' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Λόχος Αεροπόρων'').

===Balkan Wars and aftermath (1912–1930)===
[[File:Greek aviators in Constaninople 1918.jpg|thumb|left|Greek aviators at the [[San Stefano]] airfield, after the [[Mudros armistice]].|alt=]]
On 5 October 1912, Kamberos flew the first combat mission, a [[reconnaissance]] flight over [[Thessaly]].  This was on the first day of the [[Balkan wars]].  On the same day a similar mission was flown by [[Germany|German]] mercenaries in [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] service, over the [[Thrace]] front against the [[Bulgaria]]n Army.  The Greek and the Ottoman missions, coincidentally flown on the same day, were the first military aviation missions in the history of conventional war.  As a matter of fact, all Balkan countries used military aircraft and foreign mercenaries during the Balkan Wars.

24 January 1913, saw the first naval co-operation mission in history, which took place over the [[Dardanelles]].  Aided by the [[Hellenic Navy|Royal Hellenic Navy]], destroyer RHNS {{Ship|Greek destroyer|Velos|1907|2}}, 1st Lieutenant [[Michael Moutoussis]] and Ensign [[Aristeidis Moraitinis (aviator)|Aristeidis Moraitinis]] flew the Farman hydroplane and drew up a diagram of the positions of the Turkish fleet, against which they dropped four bombs.  This was not the first air-to-ground attack in military history, as there was a precedent in the Turkish-Italian war of 1911, but the first recorded attack against ships from the air.

Initially, the [[Hellenic Army]] and the Royal Hellenic Navy operated separate Army Aviation and Naval Aviation units.  During the Balkan Wars, various French Henry and Maurice Farman aircraft types were used.  The [[Hellenic Naval Air Service]] was officially founded in 1914 by the then Commander in Chief (CnC) of the Royal Hellenic Navy, British [[Mark Kerr (Royal Navy officer, born 1864)|Admiral Mark Kerr]].  Greek aviation units participated in [[World War I]] and the [[Asia Minor Campaign]], equipped by the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] with a variety of French and British designs.

===Foundation, World War II and Civil War (1930–1950)===
[[File:335 (Hellenic) Squadron RAF Hurricane pilots Egypt WWII IWM CM 3362.jpg|thumb|200px|Greek pilots of the [[335th Squadron (HAF)|335th Fighter Squadron]] in Egypt, 1942.|alt=]]
In 1930, the Aviation Ministry was founded, establishing the Air Force as the third branch of the [[Hellenic Armed Forces]].  The Hellenic Army Air Service and Hellenic Naval Air Service were merged into a single service, the Royal Hellenic Air Force.  In 1931, the [[Hellenic Air Force Academy]], the ''[[Icarus]] School'' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: ''Σχολή Ικάρων''), was founded.

At the end of 1936, Greece ordered 36 Polish [[PZL P.24]] fighter aircraft, which entered service with the 21st, 22nd and 23rd Pursuit Squadrons and after completion of deliveries in 1938, formed the core of the RHAF fighter force. The planes were well armed; 12 planes of the P.24F version had 2 machine guns and 2 20mm autocannons, the remaining 24 planes of the P.24G version had 4 machine guns.

In 1939, an order for 24 [[Bloch MB.150|Marcel Bloch MB.151]] fighter aircraft was placed, but only nine of the aircraft reached Greece, since the outbreak of [[World War II]] prevented the French from completing the order.  The aircraft entered service in the 24th Pursuit Squadron (MD – ''Moira Dioxis'') of the air force.

During the [[Greco–Italian War|Italian invasion of Greece]] (1940-1941) in the Second World War, although being severely outnumbered and counting only 79 aircraft against 380 fighters and bombers of the Italian [[Regia Aeronautica]],<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Piekalkiewicz|first1=Janusz|last2=Van Heurck|first2=Jan|year=1985|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jcR8AAAAIAAJ&q=Mitralexis|title=The air war, 1939–1945|publisher=[[Blandford Press]]|isbn=978-0-918678-05-8|access-date=25 March 2016|via=Google Books}}</ref> RHAF managed to successfully resist the assault.  On 30 October, two days after the start of the war, there was the first air battle.  Some [[Henschel Hs 126|Henschel Hs126s]] of 3/2 Flight of 3 Observation ''Mira'' took off to locate Italian Army columns.  But they were intercepted and attacked by [[Fiat CR.42 Falco]]s of 393<sup>a</sup> ''Squadriglia''.  A first Henschel was hit and crashed, killing its observer, [[Pilot Officer]] Evanghelos Giannaris, the first Greek [[aviator]] to die in the war.  A second Hs126 was downed over [[Mount Smolikas]], killing Pilot Officer Lazaros Papamichail and [[Sergeant]] Constantine Yemenetzis.{{Sfn|Carr|2012|p=4}}  On 2 November 1940, a [[Breguet 19]] intercepted the [[3 Alpine Division Julia]] while it was penetrating the [[Pindos]] mountain range in an attempt to occupy [[Metsovo]].  On the same day, 2nd Lieutenant [[Marinos Mitralexis]] having run out of ammunition, aimed the nose of his [[PZL P.24]] right into the tail of an enemy [[CANT Z.1007|CANT Z.1007bis]] bomber, smashing the [[rudder]] and sending the aircraft out of control.<ref name="air war"/>

After 65 days of war, the RHAF had lost 31 officers, seven wounded, plus four [[Non-commissioned officer|NCOs]] killed and five wounded.  Meanwhile, the number of [[combat aircraft]] had dropped to 28 fighters and 7 battle-worthy bombers.{{Sfn|Carr|2012|p=45}}  By March 1941, the Italian invasion on air and ground had been successfully pushed back, aided by the vital contribution of the RHAF to the Greek victory.  During the [[Greco-Italian War]] the Royal Hellenic Air Force shot down 68 enemy aircraft (official records) and claimed another 24. The [[Royal Air Force|British RAF]] claimed 150 additional air victories against Italian aircraft.  However, the Italian Air Force recorded only 65 aircraft lost, during the entire campaign against the Greeks and later the British, with 495 additional aircraft reported as damaged.{{Sfn|Carr|2012|p=171}}

In April 1941, the [[Wehrmacht|German Wehrmacht]] invaded Greece in order to assist the Italian assault.  During this second wave of foreign invasion, the [[Luftwaffe]] eventually succeeded in destroying most of the Royal Hellenic Air Force.  However, some aircraft managed to escape to the Middle East,<ref name="air war">{{Cite web|url=http://www.haf.gr/en/history/history/history_6.asp|title=Hellenic Air Force history – Greco-Italian War ... German invasion|publisher=HAF.gr|access-date=6 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212000034/http://www.haf.gr/en/history/history/history_6.asp|archive-date=12 December 2008}}</ref> including five [[Avro Anson]], one [[Dornier Do 22]], one [[Arado Ar 196|Arado 196]], and three [[Avro 626]].

During the German occupation of Greece, the Air Force was rebuilt under the expatriated Greek Air Force Ministry based in [[Cairo]].  Three squadrons were built, operating under the command of the British [[RAF]].  These squadrons were the [[13th Squadron (HAF)|13th Light Bombing Squadron]] flying [[Avro Anson]]s, [[Bristol Blenheim]]s, and [[Martin Baltimore]]s, and the [[335th Squadron (HAF)|335]] and [[336th Bomber Squadron (HAF)|336]] Fighting Squadrons flying [[Hawker Hurricane|Hawker Hurricane I and IIs]] and [[Spitfire|Spitfire V]] types.  The RHAF squadrons in the [[Middle East]] flew a variety of missions, including convoy patrols, anti-submarine search, offensive patrols, reconnaissance, attack and interception of enemy aircraft.  In Summer 1943, the Greek squadrons participated in the attack against the German Wehrmacht on the island of [[Crete]], and then from May to November 1944 in Italy.  During those years, seventy Greek pilots were lost.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haf.gr/en/history/history/history_7.asp|title=Hellenic Air Force history – Middle East|publisher=HAF.gr|access-date=6 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718032240/http://www.haf.gr/en/history/history/history_7.asp|archive-date=18 July 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Greek pilots who were flying with the RAF achieved many victories.  [[Rhodesia]]n-born Wing Commander [[Johnny Plagis|John Agorastos Plagis]] shot down 16 enemy aircraft over Malta and Western Europe.  Lieutenant Vasilios Michael Vassiliadis was credited with 11.5 enemy aircraft over Western Europe before he was killed in action on 15 March 1945, over Germany.  [[Steve Pisanos]], an immigrant to the US in 1938, joined an [[Eagle Squadron]] of American volunteers in the RAF and fought over Western Europe.  He later joined the [[USAAF]] and acquired US citizenship and continued to fly with the same squadron, now part of the [[4th Operations Group#World War II|USAF 4th FG]].  He had achieved ten victories with the USAAF by 1944.

After Greece's liberation in 1944, RHAF returned to Greece and subsequently played a decisive role in the [[Greek Civil War]], which lasted until 1950.  By then, it was re-equipped with [[Supermarine Spitfire]] Mk.IX, Spitfire Mk.XVI fighters, and [[Curtiss SB2C Helldiver]] bombers.

===Post-war developments (1950–1970)===
[[File:RF-84F Thunderflash (14064991190).jpg|thumb|Hellenic Air Force RF-84F Thunderflash in 1988.|alt=]]
After the end of the Greek Civil War in November 1950, Greece sent seven [[Douglas C-47 Dakota]] transport aircraft of the 13th Transport Aircraft Squadron to [[South Korea]] to assist the [[United Nations Forces in the Korean War|United Nations]] (UN).  Greek aircraft participated in many battles including [[Battle of Chosin]] and operated in Korea until May 1955.  Greek pilots flew thousands of missions including air evacuations, personnel transport, intelligence gathering, and supply flights.  In 1952 Greece joined [[NATO]], and the Air Force was rebuilt and organised according to NATO standards.  New aircraft, including jets, were introduced.

The first [[jet fighter]] flown by the RHAF was the [[Republic F-84F Thunderstreak|Republic F-84G Thunderjet]] in 1955.  It was also flown by the first Air Force aerobatic team [[337th Squadron (HAF)|337 SQ 'Hellenic Flame']] ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Ελληνική Φλόγα).  The RF-84F entered service with the [[348 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron]] in 1956.  Although the F-84G was replaced by the [[Canadair Sabre|Canadair Sabre 2]] in 1954 and 1955 after one-hundred units were retired from the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] and upgraded in the [[United Kingdom]] before entering service with the RHAF, the RF-84F remained in service until 1991.  The [[Lockheed T-33]] was also delivered as a trainer in 1955.  Some RT-33s were used for reconnaissance missions.

In the late 1960s, the RHAF acquired new jet aircraft.  These included the [[Convair F-102 Delta Dagger]] (in service 1969–1975), the [[Lockheed F-104 Starfighter|Lockheed F-104G Starfighter]], and the [[Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter]].  The F-104 and F-5 stayed in service until the mid- to late 1980s.

In the mid-1970s, the Hellenic Air Force was further modernised with deliveries of the [[Dassault Mirage F1]]CG fleet, the [[Vought A-7 Corsair II]] (including a number of TA-7Hs), and the first batch of [[McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II]]s.

In 1993, the [[United States Air Force]] delivered sixty-two additional A-7Es and TA-7Cs increasing further the air-to-ground capabilities of the HAF.  These aircraft remained in service until 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/335mb.asp|title=335 Μοίρα Βομβαρδισμού|website=HAF.gr|access-date=12 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529113837/http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/335mb.asp|archive-date=29 May 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Modernisation (1980–1997)===
[[File:Mirage 2000 of Hellenic Air Force.JPEG|thumb|Hellenic Air Force [[Mirage 2000]] taking off.|alt=]]
Until the late 1980s, the Air Force deployed missiles armed with U.S. nuclear warheads using the [[LTV A-7 Corsair II|LTV TA-7C Corsair II]].  As a result of [[Greco-Turkish relations|Greco-Turkish tension]] caused by the 1974 [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|Turkish invasion]] of [[Cyprus]], the U.S. removed its nuclear weapons from Greek and Turkish alert units to storage.  Greece saw this as another pro-Turkish move by NATO and withdrew its forces from NATO's military command structure from 1974 to 1980.

In March 1985, the Greek government announced the purchase of thirty-four F-16C and six F-16D [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D Block 30/32|Block 30 variant]] in the 'Peace Xenia I' modernisation programme.  In the same month, Greece ordered thirty-six single-seat [[Mirage 2000]]EG and four two-seat [[Mirage 2000]]BG, as part of the 'Talos' modernisation programme.

Subsequently, in 1989, the first fourth-generation fighter jets were introduced, marking the beginning of a new era: the first [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000 EG/BG]] aircraft were delivered to the [[114 Combat Wing (HAF)|114 Combat Wing]] in [[Tanagra]] air force base, and equipped the [[331st Squadron (HAF)|331]] and [[332nd Squadron (HAF)|332]] squadrons.  In January 1989, the first F-16C/D Block 30 arrived in [[111 Combat Wing (HAF)|111 Combat Wing]] in [[Nea Anchialos]] air force base, and were allocated to the [[330th Squadron (HAF)|330 'Thunder']] and [[346th Squadron (HAF)|346 'Jason']] interceptor squadrons in [[Larissa]] air force base.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/330m.asp|title=330 Μοίρα|website=HAF.gr|access-date=7 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502080319/http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/330m.asp|archive-date=2 May 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/346m.asp|title=346 Μοίρα|website=HAF.gr|access-date=7 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420050211/http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/346m.asp|archive-date=20 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 29 March 1991, the [[Republic F-84F Thunderstreak|RF-84F]] were retired from service after 34 years and 7 months of operational life.  In November 1992, more [[F-4E Phantom II|RF-4E]]s were delivered to the [[348th Squadron (HAF)|348 'Eyes' Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron]].

In 1993, the 'Peace Xenia II' modernisation programme began.  Greece ordered thirty-two F-16C and eight F-16D, [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D Block 50/52|Block 50 variant]].  The first Block 50 was delivered on 25 July 1997.  These aircraft, equipped with the [[LANTIRN]] navigation and targeting pod, along with [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] and [[AGM-88 HARM]] missiles, were allocated to the [[341st Squadron (HAF)|341 'Arrow']] and [[347th Squadron (HAF)|347 'Perseus']] squadrons in [[Nea Anchialos]] air force base.  The basic mission of 341 'Arrow' squadron is [[SEAD|Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses]] (SEAD).  The role of 347 'Perseus' squadron is air-to-ground missions.

===Entering the 21st century (1998–2007)===
[[File:Alenia C-27J Spartan, Greece - Air Force AN1336664.jpg|thumb|A Hellenic Air Force C-27J Spartan in Luxembourg.|alt=]]
[[File:HAI Pegasus II UAV landing at Chios military airport, two.jpg|thumb|[[HAI Pegasus|Pegasus II]] [[Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle|MALE UAV]] of the Hellenic Air Force, landing in [[Chios]] airport after new sensors testing.|alt=]]
In 1998, Greece decided, in collaboration with the [[DaimlerChrysler Aerospace|German Aerospace Industry (DASA)]] and the [[Hellenic Aerospace Industry|Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI/EAB)]], to upgrade thirty-nine [[F-4E Phantom II]] fighters.  The first aircraft was delivered at [[Andravida Air Base]] in December 2002.  This aircraft, which was named ''Princess of Andravida'' ([[Serial number|s/n]] 72-01523), was unique because it did not have the [[M61 Vulcan]] gun installed.  All upgraded F-4s were equipped with the new [[AN/APQ-65YG]] radar similar to that of the [[F/A-18 Hornet]], a new onboard Mission Control Computer (MCC), a [[head-up display]] (HUD), the [[identification friend or foe]] (IFF) interrogator, [[multi-function display]]s, and were also capable of carrying a variety of advanced [[Air-to-air missile|air-to-air]] and [[Air-to-ground missile|air-to-ground]] missiles.  These included the [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] (although only the -B edition), the [[AIM-9M]] missile, the [[automated flight-director system]] (AFDS), and the entire family of the [[Paveway]] (I, II and III) [[laser-guided bomb]]s.  These aircraft were the [[F-4 Phantom II#Greece|F-4E Peace Icarus 2000 (PI2000)]] or F-4E Phantom II AUP (Avionics Upgrade Programme) variants.  Although gradual retirement of F-4 units started in 2017, they are still operational in multi-role missions with the [[338th Squadron (HAF)|338 Squadron 'Ares']] and the [[339th Squadron (HAF)|339 Squadron 'Ajax']] based in [[Andravida]] air force base.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/338mdb.asp|title=338 Μοίρα Δίωξης – Βομβαρδισμού;|website=HAF.gr|access-date=29 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301050709/http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/338mdb.asp|archive-date=1 March 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>  The F-4E Phantom II PI2000 (AUP) has been certified for use of [[GBU-27 Paveway III]] [[laser-guided]] bombs, making the aircraft an excellent and modern platform for precision strikes.

In 2000, Greece decided to purchase a large number of fighters to replace the remaining non-upgraded F-4E Phantoms, a number of A-7 Corsairs, and the fleet of Mirage F1CGs.  An order for sixty [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D Block 50/52 Plus|F-16 Block 52 Plus]] was placed.<ref name="Mirageorder">{{Cite web|url=http://www.aeroworldnet.com/1tw05039.htm|title=Greece Buys 50 F-16s and 15 Mirage 2000s|publisher=AeroWorldNet|date=3 May 1999|access-date=7 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024071745/http://www.aeroworldnet.com/1tw05039.htm|archive-date=24 October 2008}}</ref>  The order was for fifty single-seaters of the C version and ten two-seaters of the D version.

Until 2001, Greece participated in NATO's [[nuclear weapons sharing]], using the A-7 Corsair II to deploy tactical [[B61 nuclear bomb|B61]] nuclear warheads from [[Araxos]] Air Force Base.  Greece then strategically decided to remove all nuclear weapons under storage in Greece, and did not purchase any more aircraft with nuclear mounting capabilities.

In September 2004, Greece also decided to upgrade all of its existing Mirage 2000 to the [[Dassault Mirage 2000#Mirage 2000-5F|Mirage 2000-5F (Mk2)]] standard, and place an additional order for fifteen new Mirage 2000-5Mk2 aircraft.<ref name="Mirageorder"/>  The project was undertaken by [[Dassault Aviation]] and the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI/EAB).  The Mirage 2000-5Mk2 has a new and more powerful radar, improved long range air-to-ground capabilities which includes the [[SCALP EG]] [[cruise missile]], a new self-protection system (SPS), a new [[Inertial Navigation System|inertial navigation system]] (INS), a [[glass cockpit]], and the addition of [[air-to-air refuelling|aerial refuelling]] capability.

Eventually in 2005, HAF was officially the first air force in the world<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haf.gr/en/mission/weapons/f16blk52.asp|title=Hellenic Air Force weapons – F-16C/D Block 52+ Fighting Falcon|website=HAF.gr|access-date=29 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516011304/http://www.haf.gr/en/mission/weapons/f16blk52.asp|archive-date=16 May 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> to add the F-16 Block 52 Plus to its inventory, since the first aircraft were delivered.  This advanced F-16 type is an improved version of the Block 50, featuring a more powerful radar, [[conformal fuel tank]]s for longer [[Range (aircraft)|operational range]], advanced communication systems, an upgraded engine, [[Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System]] (JHMCS), and is capable of carrying more advanced weapons, including the [[IRIS-T]] [[air-to-air missile]].  Three squadrons are operating with this type of F-16.  These squadrons are the [[337th Squadron (HAF)|337 'Ghost']] in [[Larissa]] air base, the [[340th Squadron (HAF)|340 'Fox']], and the [[343th Squadron (HAF)|343 'Star']] in [[Souda]] air base.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/115pm/340m.asp|title=340 Μοίρα;|website=HAF.gr|access-date=9 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614134905/http://www.haf.gr/el/structure/units/ata/units/115pm/340m.asp|archive-date=14 June 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007, the Greek government ordered an additional thirty F-16 fighters; twenty  single-seaters and ten two-seaters.  However this time, the aircraft variant was the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D Block 52M|F-16C/D Block 52+ Advanced]], that had been specifically modified for the Hellenic Air Force and offered as F-16 52M by Lockheed Martin, due to the improved computing power of the onboard mission computer (MMC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://anaxfiles.blogspot.com/2009/03/f-16-block-52-advanced.html|title=Παραλαβή νέων F-16 Block 52+ Advanced;|website=Anaxfiles.blogspot.com|date=19 March 2009|access-date=6 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811113624/http://anaxfiles.blogspot.com/2009/03/f-16-block-52-advanced.html|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>  The difference between the Block 52+ and the Block 52+ Advanced, is the [[Link 16|LINK 16]] communications system of the Advanced version, as well as a more powerful mission control computer, an extra [[multi-function display]] with a movable map navigation, advanced debriefing system, and the capability to carry the RECCE reconnaissance pod.  The first aircraft were delivered in May 2009, and operated by the [[335th Bomber Squadron (HAF)|335 'Tiger']] squadron at Araxos air base.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://anaxfiles.blogspot.com/2009/03/f-16-block-52-advanced.html|title=Παραλαβή νέων F-16 Block 52+ Advanced;|website=Anaxfiles.blogspot.com|access-date=9 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811113624/http://anaxfiles.blogspot.com/2009/03/f-16-block-52-advanced.html|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10612&Itemid=49|title=Ολοκληρώθηκαν οι παραδόσεις των F-16 Adv. στην 335Μ;|website=DefenceNet.gr|access-date=9 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202050803/http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10612&Itemid=49|archive-date=2 February 2010}}</ref>

===Later years and Greek economic crisis (2007–2018)===
Due to the retirement and obsolescence of units that had concluded their operational cycle (A-7E Corsair II and F-4 Phantom II), HAF was looking forward to acquiring new [[Fourth-generation fighter|4th]], [[Fourth-generation fighter#4.5 generation|4.5th]] or [[Fifth-generation fighter|5th generation fighters]], and at the same time, maintain a total number of three-hundred advanced fighters, also according to the Supreme Air Force Council ''2007–2012 operational planning'', which was published in 2007.  Candidates for the new generation aircraft were the [[Dassault Rafale]], [[F-35 Lightning II]], [[F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]], [[MiG-35]], and the [[Sukhoi Su-35]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17362&Itemid=49|title=Στην αφετηρία – και πάλι – για το πρόγραμμα του Νέου Μαχητικού Αεροσκάφους 6 υποψηφιότητες (βίντεο)|website=DefenceNet.gr|access-date=6 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210072336/http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17362&Itemid=49|archive-date=10 February 2011}}</ref>

During the [[Greek economic crisis]] (2008-2018), budget cuts forced HAF to ground many of its F-16s due to lack of spare parts and maintenance.  Eventually in 2015, Greece placed an order for provision of spare parts in support of its F-16, F/RF-4E, C-130H/B, C-27J, T-6A/C, and other aircraft with systems / sub-systems of U.S. origin.  The estimated cost of this order was $160 million.  In addition, some long-awaited programmes were rescheduled for the future.  The HAF modernisation programme estimated in 2007 that a purchase of forty-five advance training aircraft, fifteen [[search and rescue]] (SAR) helicopters, and forty-to-sixty new fighters was necessary.  Some of these programmes were either postponed, or eventually cancelled.

===Post economic crisis (2018-)===

The Hellenic Air Force currently possesses several fighter types and is in the process of obtaining new ones. There is the F-4, F-16 in several variants, Mirage 2000 and Rafales. As well, the F-35 will be obtained soon. This is very expensive for the Armed Forces and this needs reformed. In March 2024, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias announced that the F-4's will be retired soon and the older F-16's and Mirage 2000's will be sold off. This will streamline the Air Force.

This streamlining can be of benefit to other countries such as India which may buy the Mirage jets. As well, the older F-16's may be sold to Ukraine which is in desperate need of new aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Iddon |first1=Paul |title=Greece Is Putting Its Older F-16s And Mirage 2000s Up For Sale, But Will Any Country Buy Them? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2024/03/29/greece-is-putting-its-older-f-16s-and-mirage-2000s-up-for-sale-but-will-any-country-buy-them/ |work=Forbes |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref>

==Developing programmes==
===SAAB GlobalEye===
The [[airborne early warning and control]] (AEW&C) in the current fleet is the [[Embraer R-99|Embraer E-99]] fitted with the [[Erieye|SAAB Erieye]] radar.  This was introduced over twenty five-years ago, and it is ageing.  SAAB has offered the [[GlobalEye]] as a replacement for these old aircraft.  This is still unconfirmed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Πολεμική Αεροπορία: Παρουσίαση του εναέριου ολοκληρωμένου συστήματος επιτήρησης GlobalEye από τη Saab|url=https://defencereview.gr/polemiki-aeroporia-paroysiasi-toy-en/|website=DefenceReview.gr|date=3 June 2022 |publisher=Defence Review|access-date=27 August 2023}}</ref>

===F-16V===
During the latter part of the Greek Economic Crisis, HAF after years of austerity decided to modernize the aging fighter fleet. It dedicated resources for the upgrade of the fleet of its existing Mirage 2000 and F-16 fighters.  In 2018, [[Lockheed Martin]] was contracted to upgrade eighty-four F-16C/D Block 52+ and Block 52+ Advanced (Block 52M) to the latest [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16 Block 70/72|F-16C/D Block 70/72 (F-16V Viper)]] standard,<ref name="F-16 Greece">{{Cite web|title=F-16 Greece|url=https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/f-16/f-16-greece.html|website=LockheedMartin.com|date=2 March 2018|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref> bringing capabilities to the fleet only available in [[Fifth-generation fighter|5th generation fighters]] such as the [[F-35 Lightning II]].  This upgrade was also considered by HAF as an essential first step for future compatibility with the F-35 fighter.  While HAF's earlier F-16C/D Block 30 and Block 50 aircraft were not included in the programme, they were planned to receive equipment donated from the upgraded platforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/article/85383/lm-contracted-to-upgrade-greek-f-16s|title=Lockheed Martin contracted to upgrade Greek F-16s|publisher=Janes &#124; Latest defence and security news|access-date=21 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221145324/https://www.janes.com/article/85383/lm-contracted-to-upgrade-greek-f-16s|archive-date=21 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>  The upgrade programme is scheduled to be completed by 2027, and carried out exclusively in Greece by [[Hellenic Aerospace Industry|Hellenic Aerospace]] (HAI).  As of July 2024, 20 aircraft have been upgraded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/greece-receives-first-upgraded-f-16s|title=Greece receives first upgraded F-16s|date=13 September 2022 |publisher=Janes &#124; Latest defence and security news|access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-08-02|title=HAF receives tenth upgraded F-16 Viper fighter jet|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1216942/haf-receives-tenth-upgraded-f-16-viper-fighter-jet/|access-date=2023-08-03|website=eKathimerini.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Τσιλινίκου | first=Μαρία | title=Στους αιθέρες και το 20ο F-16 Viper | website=CNN.gr | date=2024-07-03 | url=https://www.cnn.gr/politiki/story/427463/stous-aitheres-kai-to-20o-f-16-viper-paradothike-stin-polemiki-aeroporia | language=el | access-date=2024-07-09}}</ref>

===F-35===
In April 2019, as part of the selection process for the new HAF [[Fifth-generation fighter|5th generation fighter]], Greece selected the [[Lockheed Martin F-35]] as a replacement of its older F-16 Block 30s or F-4 Phantoms, and as complementary to the F-16V upgrade programme.  The timeline for acquisition of the new aircraft, depended mainly on the country's fiscal plans and Washington's ability to offer a long-term payment framework.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece to consider F-35 purchase, Vassilis Nedos|url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/239304/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-to-consider-f-35-purchase|website=eKathimerini.com|access-date=16 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece eyes F-35s as F-16 replacement|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/greece-eyes-f-35s-as-f-16-replacement-457481/|website=Flightglobal.com|access-date=16 June 2019|date=15 April 2019}}</ref>  At the same time, the [[US Pentagon]] confirmed Greece as one of five countries to be considered as potential new customers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pentagon eyes F-35 sales to Greece, Romania and Poland: U.S. official |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-defense-f35/pentagon-eyes-f-35-sales-to-greece-romania-and-poland-u-s-official-idUSKCN1RG2OF|website=Reuters.com|access-date=16 June 2019|date=4 April 2019}}</ref>

In January 2020, Greece formally expressed interest in acquiring and participating in the F-35 programme, following a visit by Greek Prime Minister [[Kyriakos Mitsotakis]] to the [[White House]].  A figure of twenty aircraft was initially floated, to be acquired following successful completion of the upgrading of the Greek F-16 fleet in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newpost.gr/amyna/5e156368ae1188f70cbf3b6f/to-paraskinio-tis-apofasis-gia-tin-apoktisi-ton-stealth-mahitikon-mia-moira-f-35-o-stohos-tis-athinas|title=Το παρασκήνιο της απόφασης για την απόκτηση των stealth μαχητικών - Μια Μοίρα F-35 o στόχος της Αθήνας|website=Newpost.gr|date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.protothema.gr/politics/article/962283/ikanopoiisi-stin-kuvernisi-apo-to-tet-a-tet-mitsotaki-trab-ta-aitimata-kai-ta-kerdi/|title=Ικανοποίηση στην κυβέρνηση από το τετ α τετ Μητσοτάκη - Τραμπ: Τα αιτήματα και τα κέρδη της Αθήνας|website=ProtoThema.gr|date=8 January 2020}}</ref>

However, reports in September and October 2020, claimed that Greece could receive at least six F-35 jets much earlier, originally built for Turkey before its ouster from the programme, after the latter conducted tests of the S-400 missile systems purchased from [[Russia]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece to receive F-35s meant for Turkey after S-400 test|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28184/Greece_to_Receive_F_35s_Meant_for_Turkey_after_S_400_Test#.X8rPdIHfVvJ|website=DefenseWorld.net|access-date=5 December 2020}}</ref>  In late-October 2020, it was made public that the [[United States]] and Greece had further discussed the sale of eighteen to twenty-four F-35 jets to Greece, during [[U.S. Secretary of State]] Mike Pompeo's visit to [[Athens]] earlier that month.  The following month, Greece officially addressed a [[letter of intent]] (LoI) to the [[US Pentagon]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reim|first=Garrett|title=USA 'welcomes' Greece's interest in buying the F-35|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/usa-welcomes-greeces-interest-in-buying-the-f-35/141431.article|website=FlightGlobal.com|access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref>  In that LoI, Greece even showed interest in acquiring used [[USAF]] jets, if that meant initial deliveries could be agreed as early as 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Newdick|first=Thomas|title=Greece says it is willing to take second-hand F-35s as part of an urgent request: Report|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37690/greece-says-it-is-willing-to-take-second-hand-f-35s-as-part-of-an-urgent-request-report|website=TheDrive.com|date=17 November 2020|access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>  According to earlier reports from Greek national daily ''[[Estia]]'' on 19 October however, an optimistic scenario would mean that the first six aircraft could only arrive in Greece by 2022, at the earliest.

On 30 June 2022, Greece's prime minister confirmed that the country has sent a request to the United States for the purchase of twenty F-35s, with the option of buying a second group of jets also being examined.  The expected delivery date is 2027–2028.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greece-submit-request-purchase-20-lockheed-f-35-fighter-jets-soon-sources-2022-06-30/|title=Greece proceeds with purchase of 20 Lockheed F-35 fighter jets|date=30 June 2022|access-date=2022-01-07|website= Reuters.com}}</ref>

On 27 January 2024, it was announced that the USA approved the sale of 40 F-35's to Greece. These will replace ageing aircraft such as the F-4. This was on the same day as Turkey's approval to buy 40 F-16V's
and 79 modernisation kits for its F-16C's.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Finnerty |first1=Ryan |title=USA approves F-16 sale to Turkey alongside F-35s for Greece |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/usa-approves-f-16-sale-to-turkey-alongside-f-35s-for-greece/156672.article |website=flightglobal.com |publisher=Flight Global |access-date=27 January 2024}}</ref> The procurement of 20 aircraft was approved by the Hellenic Parliament on 27 June 2024.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ν.Δένδιας στη Βουλή: «Θα αποκτήσουμε 20 αεροσκάφη F-35» | website=Pronews.gr | date=2024-06-27 | url=https://www.pronews.gr/amyna-asfaleia/ypetha/n-dendias-sti-vouli-tha-apoktisoume-20-aeroskafi-f-35/ | language=el | ref={{sfnref | Pronews.gr | 2024}} | access-date=2024-07-09}}</ref> Greece signed the relevant Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LoA) on July 25, 2024.<ref>{{cite web | last=Ομάδα | first=Συντακτική | title=Ν. Δένδιας: Υπεγράφη η επιστολή αποδοχής για τα F-35 | website=ertnews.gr | date=2024-07-25 | url=https://www.ertnews.gr/roi-idiseon/n-dendias-ypegrafi-i-epistoli-apodoxis-gia-ta-f-35/ | language=el | access-date=2024-07-26}}</ref>

===C-390===
The [[Lockheed C-130|C130-B and C130-H]] variants are coming to the end of their service lives.  These need to be replaced soon.  As announced in January 2023, the Hellenic Air Force is in talks to potentially buy the [[Embraer C-390 Millennium]] from Embraer.  Another potential option is to buy retired C130J's from the [[Royal Air Force]].

Despite this, there is no conformation of any purchase, and talks are ongoing.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meier|first=Ricardo|title=Embraer had a meeting with the Greek Ministry of Defense to present the C-390 Millennium|url=https://www.airdatanews.com/embraer-had-a-meeting-with-the-greek-ministry-of-defense-to-present-the-c-390-millennium/|website=AirDataNews.com|date=27 January 2023 |publisher=Air Data News|access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref>

===Rafale===
In August 2020, [[Greece]] announced the acquisition of eighteen [[Rafale]] multi-role aircraft from [[France]].<ref>{{Cite press release|title=Greece and the Rafale|url=https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/group/press/press-kits/greece-and-the-rafale/|publisher=Dassault Aviation, Press kits|access-date=5 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Waldron|first=Greg|title=Greece orders 18 Rafale fighters|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/greece-orders-18-rafale-fighters/140150.article|website=FlightGlobal.com|access-date=5 December 2020}}</ref>  Initial reports stated that ten would be the new C-built Rafale F3-R version, and eight would be older F1 & F2 versions already in use with the [[French Air Force]], that would be given to Greece free-of-charge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/aircraft-propulsion/greece-purchase-rafales-reports-say|title=Greece to purchase Rafales, reports say|publisher=Aviation Week Network|website=AviationWeek.com}}</ref>  However, later reports stated that all eighteen aircraft would be the new F3-R version, and would replace an equal number of older Mirage 2000EGM aircraft, that had not been previously upgraded to the 2000-5 Mk2 version.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Asthana|first=Mansij|date=30 October 2020|title=F-35s + Rafales: how a combination of US F-35s & French Rafale jets for HAF could 'wreak havoc' on Turkish defences?|url=https://eurasiantimes.com/f-35s-rafales-how-a-combination-of-us-french-fighter-jets-for-haf-could-wreck-havoc-on-turkish-defences/|website=EurAsianTimes.com|publisher=EurAsian News|access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>  Finally in January 2021, the official agreement with [[Dassault Aviation]] was ratified in parliament, and included the purchase of six newly built, and twelve 'slightly used' F3-R aircraft in previous service with the [[French Air and Space Force|Armée de l'Air]], for a total cost of €2.4&nbsp;billion, including their armament and ground support.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece's purchase of French-made fighter jets worth €2 billion|url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/09/26/greeces-purchase-of-french-made-fighter-jets-worth-e2-billion/|website=GreekCityTimes.com|date=26 September 2020|access-date=5 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28779/Greece_Approves__14B_5Yr_Modernization_Plan__to_Receive_Rafales_in_Mid_2021#.YAcPT4uP7IU|title=Greece approves $14B 5-yr modernization plan, to receive Rafales in mid-2021|website=DefenseWorld.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hellenicparliament.gr/Nomothetiko-Ergo/Psifisthenta-Nomoschedia?law_id=b5342fec-22cd-4194-8313-acad01511171|title=Ψηφισθέντα Νομοσχέδια|website=HellenicParliament.gr}}</ref>  Theodoros Lagios, Director General of Armament and Investments of the Greek Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Éric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, signed the contracts in Athens on 25 January.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jennings|first=Gareth|date=2021-01-25|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/greece-signs-for-rafale-combat-aircraft|title=Greece signs for Rafale combat aircraft|access-date=2022-03-26|website=Janes.com}}</ref>

In June 2021, Dassault Aviation released the first photographs of Rafale F3R of the Hellenic Air Force, bearing the HAF [[roundel]] and [[fin flash]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dassault Aviation releases photo of first Rafale for Greece|url=https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2021/07/11/dassault-aviation-releases-photo-of-first-rafale-for-greece/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=GlobalDefenseCorp.com|date=2021-07-11}}</ref> and in July, the first aircraft was officially delivered to Greece.  The aircraft were commissioned to the [[332nd Squadron (HAF)|332 'Falcon' All-Weather Squadron]], previously operating with Mirage 2000EGM/BGM jets.

On 11 September 2021, Greek Prime Minister at the 2021 [[Thessaloniki International Fair]] announced the purchase of six additional Rafale, bringing the total order number to twenty-four.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kelepouris|first=Dimitris|date=2021-11-09|url=https://www.ptisidiastima.com/syn-6-rafale-gia-tin-pa-to-epibebaiose-o-mitsotakis-sti-deth/|title=ΕΚΤΑΚΤΟ: Συν 6 Rafale για την ΠΑ, το επιβεβαίωσε ο Μητσοτάκης στη ΔΕΘ|trans-title=Purchase of 6 additional Rafale, Mitsotakis confirms|language=el|access-date=2022-03-26}}</ref>  Greece officially signed the new contract for the acquisition of six additional new Rafale aircraft on 24 March 2022, which follows Greece's acquisition of Rafales in January 2021, and increased number of Rafales to be operated to twenty-four aircraft.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/group/press/press-kits/greece-acquires-six-additional-new-rafale/|title=Greece acquires six additional new Rafale|publisher=Dasault Aviation|access-date=2022-03-26|date=2022-03-24}}</ref><ref name="6raf">{{Cite web|last=Hoyle|first=Craig|date=2022-03-25|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/greece-signs-contract-for-additional-six-rafale-fighters/148048.article|title=Greece signs contract for additional six Rafale fighters|website=Flightglobal.com|access-date=2022-03-25}}</ref>

===Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)===
In 2019, Greece reached an agreement with [[Israel]] for the lease, with an option to purchase, of two-plus-one [[IAI Heron]] [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Frantzman|first=Seth|date=8 May 2020|title=Greece and Israel deal spotlight leasing model for military UAVs|url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/05/08/greece-and-israel-deal-spotlight-leasing-model-for-military-uavs/|website=DefenseNews.com|access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref>  These aircraft would be utilised by HAF and the [[Hellenic Navy]] in land and marine border patrol missions.  Greek Herons include a unique maritime configuration with sensors and communications designed to monitor the extensive water borders of Greece.

In addition, in November 2020, the Greek multinational company [[Intracom|Intracom Defense Electronics]] (IDE) was placed head of a consortium that included the [[Aristotle University of Thessaloniki]] (AUT), the [[University of Patras]], as well as many other Greek and European companies from [[Cyprus]], [[Spain]], and the [[Netherlands]], for the design and construction of stealth [[swarm drone]]s, codenamed Project LOTUS (Low Observable Tactical Unmanned System).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Unmanned systems|url=https://www.intracomdefense.com/security-solutions/unmanned-systems/|website=IntracomDefense.com|publisher=Intracom Defence Electronics|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Greek Intracom Defense to develop stealth UAV with EU funding - Project LOTUS|date=30 November 2020|url=https://geopolitiki.com/greek-intracom-defense-to-develop-stealth-uav-with-eu-funding-project-lotus/|website=GeoPolitiki.com|access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref>  It was noted that two types of drones will be built as part of Project LOTUS.  The first will be the 'mothership', a large drone with stealth characteristics,<ref>{{Cite web|author1=K. Yakinthos|author2=P. Panagiotou|author3=P. Kaparos|title=Aerodynamic design of innovative layout unmanned aerial vehicles supported by high-fidelity numerical tools|url=https://www.beta-cae.com/events/c8pdf/5D_2_YAKINTHOS.pdf|website=beta-cae.com|publisher=Before Reality Conference|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref> to be designed by the AUT based on the [[HCUAV|Delaer-RX3 prototype]] designed by the university's Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery (LFMT).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Delaer-RX3|url=https://lfmt.gr/delaer-rx3/|website=LFMT.gr|publisher=Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery|access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref>  The rest will be smaller swarm drones built in large numbers, linked to, and supported by the mothership.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece will build advanced drones with 'swarm' function|url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/07/23/greece-will-build-advanced-drones-with-swarm-function/|website=GreekCityTimes.com|access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref>  These endogenous aircraft will be primarily used in border and maritime patrol missions, high value target reconnaissance and surveillance, while utilising [[Data fusion|data-fusion technologies]] to cooperate with HAF's future [[Fourth-generation fighter#4.5 generation|4.5]] and [[Fifth-generation fighter|5th generation fighters]].  According to IDE, the air force could completely cover its operational needs within a 5-year plan.<ref>{{Cite press release|title=LOTUS: next generation tactical UAV from Intracom Defense for ISR missions|url=https://www.intracom.com/sites/default/files/news/pr_lotus_next_generation_tactical_uav.pdf|website=Intracom.com|publisher=Intracom Defense Electronics|access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref>  On 9 June 2021, the [[Ministry of National Defence (Greece)|Hellenic MOD]] approved the project for development, as part of sixteen other multi-national and European projects that were examined and approved by MOD technical staff.<ref>{{Cite web|title="Πράσινο φως" από ΥΠΕΘΑ για το πρωτοποριακό πρόγραμμα LOTUS|url=https://www.ptisidiastima.com/prasino-fos-ypetha-lotus/#!|website=Ptisidiastima.com|publisher=Πτήση & Διάστημα|access-date=17 June 2021|language=el|date=2021-06-15}}</ref>

In July 2022, the Hellenic Air Force signed a deal with [[General Atomics]] to obtain three [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|General Atomics MQ-9C Sea Guardian]] UAVs.  These will enhance the maritime surveillance capability of the air force, as each aircraft can remain in the air for forty hours.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Singh Bisht|first=Inder|date=8 July 2022|title=Greek parliament approves $400M MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone purchase|url=https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/07/08/greece-mq-9b-purchase/|website=TheDefensePost.com|publisher=The Defense Post|access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref>

Turkish drones frequently violate Greek airspace, and they can overwhelm Greek air defences.  It is difficult for the likes of a Greek F16 to engage a [[Baykar Bayraktar TB2]] if it enters Greek airspace four times a day.  For this reason, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel is providing the Drone Dome, a system of electronic devices.  These can disrupt the communications and GPS signals of the TB2.  This can deny Greek airspace to Turkish drones in the event of a war and even eliminate them with a 10&nbsp;kW laser.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Iddon|first=Paul|title=Greece is deploying Israeli systems to counter Turkish drones|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2022/07/03/greece-is-deploying-israeli-systems-to-counter-turkish-drones/?sh=6c602985165e|website=Forbes.com|access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref>

The defence firm [[Hellenic Aerospace Industry]] unveiled the new Archytas UAV at the Thessaloniki International Fair in September 2022.  This is a fixed-wing UAV in a pusher configuration, with four additional motors to allow the aircraft to take-off and land vertically.  Archytas is primarily designed for surveillance by the armed forces.  However, it can also be used by civil defence agencies, and can be armed with up to {{Convert|14|kg|lb|0|abbr=off}} of weapons. It has a range of {{Convert|300|km|0|abbr=off}}, a top speed of {{Convert|120|km/h|0|abbr=off}}, and a four-hour flight endurance.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gosselin-Malo|first=Elizabeth|date=23 September 2022|title=Greece unveils new surveillance drone to keep tabs on its islands|url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/09/23/greece-unveils-new-surveillance-drone-to-keep-tabs-on-its-islands/|website=DefenseNews.com|publisher=Defense News|access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref>

It has been announced that the first Greek [[UCAV]] is under development.  It will be called Grypas.  The project is led by EAB, with the collaboration of several universities such as the Democritus University of Thrace.  Large scale production is expected to start in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gosselin-Malo|first=Elisabeth|date=24 January 2023|title=Greece builds first locally made combat drone|url=https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2023/01/24/greece-builds-first-locally-made-combat-drone/|website=DefenseNews.com|publisher=Defense News|access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref>

==Regional role==
===Turkey===
In international politics, the antagonism between [[Greek–Turkish relations|Greece and Turkey]] has made it imperative for HAF to maintain parity with [[Turkish Air Force]] (TAF).  HAF and TAF pilots have engaged in mock [[dogfight]]s over the [[Aegean Sea]] for years, with some turning deadly; such as the [[1996 Turkish F-16 shootdown|1996 shooting down of a Turkish F-16]] by a Greek Mirage 2000, and the 2006 crash of a Greek F-16 where Greek pilot attempted a move to escape the Turkish F-16 and subsequently crashed into the Aegean sea with the pilot losing his life.<ref>{{Cite web|title=May 23: commemorating Captain Konstantinos Iliakis who died defending his country|url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/05/23/may-23-commemorating-captain-konstantinos-iliakis-who-died-defending-his-country-2/|website=GreekCityTimes.com|publisher=Greek City Times|date=2020-05-23|access-date=2021-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece remembers hero pilot Iliakis who died defending country's skies|url=https://greekreporter.com/2022/05/23/konstantinos-iliakis-greece-hero-pilot/|website=GreekReporter.com|date=2020-05-23|access-date=2021-06-22}}</ref>

The regional balance of power in the eastern Mediterranean was inevitably affected during the [[Greek government-debt crisis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.balkanalysis.com/greece/2012/02/19/greece-and-turkey-offensive-and-defensive-balance-of-air-power-in-2012/|title=Greece and Turkey: offensive and defensive balance of air power in 2012|website=Balkanalysis.com|access-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109064055/http://www.balkanalysis.com/greece/2012/02/19/greece-and-turkey-offensive-and-defensive-balance-of-air-power-in-2012/|archive-date=9 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>  However, it was subsequently restored, influenced by negative developments in Turkey's F-35 programme in 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mehta|first=Aaron|date=17 July 2019|title=Turkey officially kicked out of F-35 program, costing US half a billion dollars|url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2019/07/17/turkey-officially-kicked-out-of-f-35-program/|website=DefenseNews.com|publisher=Defense News|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref> rise of diplomatic tensions in [[Turkey–United States relations|Turkey-US bilateral relations]] during the same period,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Erdogan: US scrapping F-35 jet deal with Turkey would be robbery|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/erdogan-scrapping-35-jet-deal-turkey-robbery-190704064237370.html|website=AlJazeera.com|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network]]|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref> and at the same time, the decision of Greece to direct funds towards the upgrade of its existing F-16 and Mirage 2000 fleet, and eventually to acquire new [[Fourth-generation fighter#4.5 generation|4.5 generation fighters]] in 2020.  By 2023, several Rafale jets have been delivered, as well as the upgrade of F16's to the Viper variant.

===Cyprus===
HAF is also tasked for the defence of Cypriot airspace, as [[Cyprus Air Forces|Cyprus Air Command]] has no combat jet capabilities.  HAF aircraft have to be able to reach the island and remain over Cypriot airspace for prolonged periods of time and possibly under combat conditions.  The distance between the nearest Greek air base on the island of [[Crete]] and [[Cyprus]] is about {{Convert|700|km|0|abbr=off}}.  Furthermore, HAF seeks to have the ability to strike at distances of more than {{Convert|1000|km|0|abbr=off}} from its [[airbase]]s.  To that effect in September 2020, during increased tensions between Greece and Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean amidst Turkish attempts to conduct hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Turkey-Greece tensions escalate over Turkish Med drilling plans|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53497741|website=BBC.co.uk|publisher=[[BBC News]]|access-date=6 December 2020|date=25 August 2020}}</ref> Greek F-16 fighter jets taking off from [[Crete]] reached and landed on the island of Cyprus for the first time in almost 20&nbsp;years, participating in joint drills together with [[Cyprus]] and [[France]], and successfully returning to their home base after.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Six Greek F-16s participated in joint drill off Cyprus, Vassilis Nedos|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/256288/article/ekathimerini/news/six-greek-f-16s-participated-in-joint-drill-off-cyprus|website=eKathimerini.com|access-date=6 December 2020}}</ref>

===The Balkans===
In May 2019, the defence ministers of Greece and [[Vardaska]] signed a military agreement, for the policing and patrolling of North Macedonia's airspace by Greece.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Michalopoulos|first=Sarantis|date=2 April 2019|title=Greece will police North Macedonia's airspace following historic visit|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/greece-will-police-north-macedonias-airspace-following-historic-visit/|website=Euractiv.com|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>  The agreement also included other areas such as military technology, [[cybersecurity]], intelligence and air traffic control, all provided by the Hellenic Air Force.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kampouris|first=Nick|date=21 May 2019|title=Greek fighter jets begin policing North Macedonian airspace|url=https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/05/21/greek-fighter-jets-begin-policing-north-macedonian-airspace/|website=GreekReporter.com|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>  Since 2017, Greece and [[Italy]] also provide, in rotation, policing of the airspaces of [[Albania]] and [[Montenegro]].  Additionally, as part of Greece's conventional obligations within [[NATO]], HAF and [[USAF]] aircraft cooperate in a variety of missions, from air patrolling, to ground target marking, and provision of air defence training to allied Balkan countries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greek F-16s accompany American bomber plane over Skopje|url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/05/30/greek-f-16s-accompany-american-bomber-plane-over-skopje/?amp|website=GreekCityTimes.com|access-date=16 December 2020|date=30 May 2020}}</ref>

===North Africa and Persian Gulf===
As part of multilateral arrangements, Greece remains in close military cooperation with countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region and the [[Persian Gulf]], including [[Israel]], [[Egypt]], [[Jordan]], the [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE), and [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece's new diplomatic allies|url=https://southeusummit.com/europe/greeces-new-diplomatic-allies/|website=SouthEUSummit.com|access-date=16 December 2020|date=3 January 2020|archive-date=8 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108021533/https://southeusummit.com/europe/greeces-new-diplomatic-allies/|url-status=dead}}</ref>  On 14 September 2021, the Hellenic Air Force deployed a fully equipped battery of [[MIM-104 Patriot]] missiles to Saudi Arabia as part of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Concept.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/09/15/greece-deploys-patriot-missile-saudi/|title=Greece deploys PATRIOT missile battery to Saudi Arabia|date=2021-09-15|access-date=2021-11-21|website=GreekCityTimes.com}}</ref>  According to official statements, [[Athens]] and [[Riyadh]] had agreed on the deployment of the Hellenic Force of Saudi Arabia (HFSA) consisting of the MIM-104 Patriot System and 120&nbsp;men with their relevant gear and infrastructure for an unspecified length of time,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece sends missile system to Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1167731/greece-sends-missile-system-to-saudi-arabia/|website=eKathimerini.com|access-date=17 September 2021}}</ref> to guard "critical energy infrastructures".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Trevithick|first=Joseph|date=5 February 2020|title=Greece is sending Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia to guard 'critical energy infrastructure'|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32092/greece-is-sending-patriot-missiles-to-saudi-arabia-to-guard-critical-energy-infrastructure|website=TheDrive.com|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>

In September 2020, Greece and the UAE conducted common air superiority drills in the eastern Mediterranean region, which lasted almost three weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UAE sends F-16 jets to Crete for joint drills with Greece|url=https://m.jpost.com/middle-east/uae-sends-f-16-jets-to-crete-for-joint-drills-with-greece-639739|website=JPost.com|date=24 August 2020 |publisher=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>  As the two air forces share very similar types of fleets, and following these common exercises, the two countries signed a mutual defence agreement<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece, UAE agree to mutual defense pact|url=https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/11/23/Greece-UAE-agree-to-mutual-defense-pact/6791606163106/|website=UPI.com|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref> further reinforcing bilateral military and political ties.

In December 2020, Greece and Israel came closer to a €1.4&nbsp;billion agreement over twenty years,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Israel, Greece in talks to establish €1.4B pilot training school|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27256/Israel__Greece_in_Talks_to_Establish____1_4B_Pilot_Training_School#.X-U3KIHfVvI|website=DefenseWorld.net|access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref> for the creation of the International Air Force Training Centre (IAFTC) in the Greek city of [[Kalamata]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece to open new air force training academy in Kalamata, Vassilis Nedos|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/253938/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-to-open-new-air-force-training-academy-in-kalamata|website=eKathimerini.com|access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Antonopoulos|first=Paul|date=23 June 2020|title=Greece to create International Air Force Flight Training Centre in Kalamata|url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/06/23/greece-to-create-international-air-force-flight-training-centre-in-kalamata/|website=GreekCityTimes.com|access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref>  The IAFTC will provide advanced training to new Greek and Israeli military pilots, as well as lease services to international air force customers, utilising the [[Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master]] jet trainer<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece to open new international military flight training school in Kalamata|url=https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2020/07/greece-to-open-new-international-flight-training-school.html|website=BlogBeforeFlight.net|publisher=Blog Before Flight|date=July 2020|access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref> that will replace the [[North American T-2 Buckeye]].  The main Israeli company committed to the investment is [[Elbit Systems]].  The International Air Force Training Centre (IAFTC) officially opened in October 2022, with fourteen [[Beechcraft T-6 Texan II|Beechcraft T-6]] single-engine turboprop aircraft, with M-346 and additional T-6 to join in the near future.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kokkinidis|first=Tasos|date=21 October 2022|title=Greece and Israel open flight school in Kalamata|url=https://greekreporter.com/2022/10/21/greece-israel-open-flight-school/|website=GreekReporter.com|access-date=12 November 2022}}</ref>

==Equipment==
===Aircraft===
[[File:F16 - RIAT 2015 (23239764043).jpg|thumb|An F-16 landing at [[RIAT]]]]
[[File:Embraer ERJ-135LR Greece - Air Force 145-209, LUX Luxembourg (Findel), Luxembourg PP1209838195.jpg|thumb|An ERJ-135LR in [[Luxembourg ]]]]
[[File:HAF Super Pumas (modified).jpg|thumb|right|A Super Puma helicopter for the [[Combat search and rescue|CSAR]] mission]] 
[[File:Raytheon T-6A from the training Wing at Kalamata.jpg|thumb|A T-6A from the training Wing at Kalamata]]
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| [[Military aircraft#Combat aircraft|Combat Aircraft]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Dassault Rafale]]
| rowspan="2" | [[France]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Multirole combat aircraft|multirole]]
| [[Dassault Rafale#Variants|Rafale C F3-R]]
|14<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Military Balance 2024 |publisher=IISS |year=2024 |isbn=978-1032780047}}</ref>
| rowspan="2" |6 on order<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|-
|[[Dassault Rafale#Variants|Rafale B F3-R]]
|4<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Dassault Mirage 2000-5|Mirage 2000]]
| rowspan="2" | France
| rowspan="2" | multirole

| [[Dassault Mirage 2000#Variants|2000-5EG Mark II]]
| 19<ref name=":0" />
| rowspan="2" | 10 [[Dassault Mirage 2000#Variants|Mirage 2000EG]] in store.<ref name=":0" />
|-
|[[Dassault Mirage 2000#Variants|2000-5BG Mark II]]
|5<ref name=":0" />
|-
| [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4 Phantom II]]
| [[United States]]
|[[fighter-bomber]]
| [[List of McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II variants#Variants|F-4E]]
| 33<ref name="World Air Forces 2024">{{cite news |last = |first = |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=98881|title = World Air Forces 2024|newspaper = Flight Global|publisher= flightglobal.com |year=2023  |doi = |access-date= 6 February 2024}}</ref>
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16 Fighting Falcon]]
| rowspan="4" | United States
| rowspan="4" |[[Multirole combat aircraft|multirole]]
| [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|F-16CG/DG]] 
[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|Block 30/50]]
| 69<ref name=":0" />
| rowspan="4" | 39 [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|D]] variants provide [[Trainer aircraft#Operational conversion|conversion training]]<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>On-going upgrade of Block 52+ ADV and Block 52+ to Block 72. Total of 83 aircraft will be upgraded.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-04 |title=Greece receives 20th upgraded F-16 Viper |url=https://www.defensehere.com/en/greece-receives-20th-upgraded-f-16-viper |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Defense Here |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|F-16CG/DG]] 
[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|Block 52+]]
|53<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aviation Safety Network > > ASN Aviation Safety Database results |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/type/F16/1/SX |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=asn.flightsafety.org}}</ref>
|-
|[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|F-16C/D]] 
[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|Block 52+ ADV]]
|10<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2024-07-04 |title=Greece receives 20th upgraded F-16 Viper |url=https://www.defensehere.com/en/greece-receives-20th-upgraded-f-16-viper |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Defense Here |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|F-16C/D]] 
[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|Block 72]]
|20<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
|-
| [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35 Lightning II]]
| United States
| multirole
| [[F-35A]]
| 
| 20 on order. Deal signed and entering service in 2028<ref>{{cite web |title=Greece to get two Squadrons of Fifth-Gen F-35 Multi-Role Fighter Jets |url=https://armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2024_global_security_army_industry/greece_to_get_two_squadrons_of_fifth-gen_f-35_multi-role_fighter_jets.html |website=armyrecognition.com |date=11 April 2024 |publisher=Army Recognition |access-date=14 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime Patrol]]
|-
| [[Lockheed P-3 Orion]]
| United States
| [[Maritime patrol aircraft|patrol]] / [[Anti-submarine warfare|ASW]]
|  
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| [[Airborne early warning and control|AWACS]]
|-
| [[Embraer E-99]]
| [[Brazil]]
| [[Airborne early warning and control|AEW&C]]
|
|4<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | [[Aerial firefighting|Aerial Firefighting]]
|-
| [[PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader|PZL-Mielec M-18]]
| [[Poland]]
| [[Aerial firefighting#Airtankers|water bomber]]
| [[PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader#Variants|M-18B]]
|22<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ridder |first1=Dirk Jan de |title=Always the First - Greek M-18 Dromaders {{!}} Dirk Jan de Ridder |url=http://www.ridder.aero/article/always-the-first-greek-m-18-dromaders/ |website=Ridder.aero |access-date=24 January 2021 |language=en |date=24 June 2018}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[Bombardier CL-415]]
| [[Canada]]
| water bomber
| 
|7<ref name="World Air Forces 2016">{{cite web|last= |first= |url= https://d3fod5fkpt74ph.cloudfront.net/f5975bad82fe4e9e8d7f2e21e2e6f39e/3395ff5ac4d54a05bf6baa0c63895356.pdf|title= World Air Forces 2016|publisher= Flightglobal Insight|year= 2016|doi= |accessdate= 1 April 2016|url-access= registration|archive-date= 10 August 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170810171228/https://d3fod5fkpt74ph.cloudfront.net/f5975bad82fe4e9e8d7f2e21e2e6f39e/3395ff5ac4d54a05bf6baa0c63895356.pdf|url-status= dead}}</ref>
|One aircraft is dedicated for [[Search and rescue|SAR]].<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|-
| [[Bombardier CL-215]]
| Canada
| water bomber
| 
|11<ref>{{cite web |title=Hellenic Air Force suffers its second CL-215 crash of the year. {{!}} AgAir Update |date=September 2016 |url=https://www.agairupdate.com/hellenic-air-force-suffers-its-second-cl-215-crash-of-the-year/ |access-date=24 January 2021}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[De Havilland Canada DHC-515]]
| Canada
| water bomber
| 
|
|Seven new DHC-515 aircraft on order to replace the CL-215.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greece approves purchase of seven firefighting planes from Canada |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greece-approves-purchase-seven-firefighting-planes-canada-2024-03-21/#:~:text=The%20deal%20passed%20by%20Parliament,2030%2C%20according%20to%20the%20agreement. |website=reuters.com |publisher=Reuters |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Υπεγράφη η συμφωνία για την αγορά επτά πυροσβεστικών αεροσκαφών DHC-515 | website=Αθηναϊκό-Μακεδονικό πρακτορείο ειδήσεων | url=https://www.amna.gr/home/videos/806827/Ypegrafi-i-sumfonia-gia-tin-agora-epta-purosbestikon-aeroskafon-DHC-515 | language=el | ref={{sfnref | Μακεδονικό πρακτορείο ειδήσεων}} | access-date=2024-03-26}}</ref>
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| [[Military transport aircraft|Transport]]
|-
| [[Alenia C-27J Spartan|Alenia C-27J]]
| [[Italy]]
| transport 
|
| 8<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|
|-
| [[Gulfstream V]]
| United States
| [[Air transports of heads of state and government|VIP transport]]
| 
| 1<ref name="Equipment of the Hellenic Air Force">{{cite web |title=Equipment |url=https://www.haf.gr/en/equipment/ |website=HAF official website |accessdate=23 February 2019}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[Beechcraft King Air|Super King Air]]
| United States
| [[air ambulance]]
| [[Beechcraft Super King Air#Variants|350]]
| 2<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|flown for the [[Ministry of Health (Greece)|Ministry of Health]]<ref name="greekcitytimes.com">{{cite web |title=Greece receives 2 new air ambulances |url=https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/04/15/greece-new-air-ambulances/ |website=Greek City Times |access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|Lockheed C-130]]
| rowspan="2" | United States
| rowspan="2" | [[Airlift|tactical airlift]]
| [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules#Variants|C-130B]]
| 5<ref name=":0" />
| rowspan="2" |
|-
|[[Lockheed C-130 Hercules#Variants|C-130H]]
|10<ref name=":0" />
|-
| [[Embraer EMB-135]]
| Brazil
| VIP transport
| [[Embraer EMB-135#Variants|135LR/BJ]]
| 1 / 1<ref name="Equipment of the Hellenic Air Force"/>
| 
|-
|[[Dassault Falcon 7X]]
|France
| VIP transport
|
|1<ref name="Equipment of the Hellenic Air Forcec">{{cite web |url=https://www.pentapostagma.gr/ethnika-themata/polemiki-aeroporia/7044316_kalotaxido-i-dassault-parahorise-dorean-falcon-7x-stin |title= Καλοτάξιδο! Η Dassault παραχώρησε δωρεάν το Falcon 7X στην Πολεμική μας Αεροπορία |website= Pentapostagma |date= 19 October 2021 |language= el}}</ref>
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| [[Helicopters]]
|-
|[[Bell 205]]
| United States
|Utility 
|
|12<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|
|-
|[[Bell 212]]
| United States
| VIP transport
|
|2<ref name="sipri">{{cite web|title=Arms Transfers Database|url=https://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|publisher=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute|access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref>
|
|- 
|[[Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma|Eurocopter AS332]]
| France
|Utility / [[Combat search and rescue|CSAR]]
|
|12<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
| To be replaced by the AW139<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cuenca |first1=Oliver |title=Greek air force to acquire AW139s |url=https://www.airmedandrescue.com/latest/news/greek-air-force-acquire-aw139s |website=airmedandrescue.com |publisher=Air Med and Rescue |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|[[AgustaWestland AW109]]
|Italy
|[[air ambulance]]
|[[AgustaWestland AW109#Variants|Trekker]]
|2<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|flown for the [[Ministry of Health (Greece)|Ministry of Health]]
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| [[Trainer (aircraft)|Trainer Aircraft]]
|-
| [[Beechcraft T-6 Texan II|T-6 Texan II]]
| United States
|advanced trainer
| [[Beechcraft T-6 Texan II#Variants|T-6A]]
|45<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|
|-
| [[North American T-2 Buckeye|T-2 Buckeye]]
| United States
| jet trainer 
| [[North American T-2 Buckeye#Variants|T-2C/E]]
| 40<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
| 
|-
| [[Tecnam P2002 Sierra|P2002 Sierra]]
| Italy
| basic trainer
| [[Tecnam P2002 Sierra#Variants|P-2002JF]]
| 12<ref>{{cite web |title=The Minister of National Defence Evangelos Apostolakis at the Ceremony for the Acceptance of New Training Aircrafts &#91;sic&#93; by the Hellenic Air Force |url=http://www.mod.mil.gr/en/press-releases/minister-national-defence-evangelos-apostolakis-ceremony-acceptance-new-training |website=Ministry of National Defence |accessdate=13 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
|
|-
|[[Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master|Alenia Aermacchi M-346]]
| Italy
|jet trainer
|[[Trainer aircraft#Lead-in fighter training|LIFT]]
|5
|5 on order<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/><ref>{{cite web | last=Ιωαννίδης | first=Σταύρος | title=Η "Κ" στα νέα εκπαιδευτικά της Πολεμικής Αεροπορίας – Η πρώτη σειρά Ικάρων στα Μ-346 | website=Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ | date=2024-03-15 | url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/politics/foreign-policy/562935259/i-k-sta-nea-ekpaideytika-tis-polemikis-aeroporias-i-proti-seira-ikaron-sta-m-346/ | language=el | access-date=2024-04-03}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|UAVs]]
|-
| [[HAI Pegasus|Pegasus]]
| Greece
|surveillance 
| [[HAI Pegasus|Pegasus II]]
| 16<ref>{{cite web|url=https://national-pride.org/2013/03/27/uav-male-%CF%80%CE%AE%CE%B3%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B9%CE%B9-to-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%BC%CE%B7-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B4%CF%81%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%BF/|title=UAV MALE Πήγασος ΙΙ. To ελληνικό μη επανδρωμένο αεροσκάφος είναι έτοιμο και επιχειρησιακό!|date=March 27, 2013|publisher=|access-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref>
|
|-
|[[IAI Eitan|IAI Eitan - Heron TP]]
|[[Israel]]
|surveillance 
|[[IAI Eitan|Heron TP]]
|3
|leased from Israel<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece Leases Israeli Heron Surveillance Drones|url=https://www.defenseworld.net/news/26913/Greece_Leases_Israeli_Heron_Surveillance_Drones|access-date=2022-01-20|website=www.defenseworld.net}}</ref>
|-
| [[General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper|General Atomics MQ-9B]]
| United States
| [[Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle|MALE]] uav
| SeaGuardian
| 
| 3 on order <ref>{{cite web |last1=Singh Bisht |first1=Inder |title=Greek Parliament Approves $400M MQ-9B SeaGuardian Drone Purchase |url=https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/07/08/greece-mq-9b-purchase/ |website=thedefensepost.com |date=8 July 2022 |publisher=The Defense Post |access-date=13 July 2022}}</ref>
|}

===Retired===
Previous notable aircraft operated were the [[Supermarine Spitfire]], [[F-86 Sabres]], [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]], [[Grumman HU-16 Albatross]], [[Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw|Sikorsky H-19]], [[Bell 47]], [[Dassault Mirage F1]], [[Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star|Lockheed T-33]], [[Republic F-84F Thunderstreak|Republic F-84F]], [[Convair F-102 Delta Dagger]], [[Lockheed F-104 Starfighter]], [[Northrop F-5]], [[LTV A-7 Corsair II|A-7 Corsair II]], and the [[F-4 Phantom|RF-4E]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%200634.html |title=WAF 1955 |publisher= flightglobal.com |date=|accessdate=12 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%201047.html|title=WAF 1971 |publisher= flightglobal.com |date=|accessdate=12 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%201669.html |title=WAF 1975 |publisher= flightglobal.com |date=|accessdate=12 December 2017}}</ref>

===Air defence===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Current Weapons Systems of the Hellenic Air Force
!style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc"|Name!! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc" |Origin!! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc" |Type!! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc" |In Service!! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc" |Notes
|-
!colspan=5 style="align:center; background:lavender"|[[surface-to-air missile|Surface-to-Air Missile]] (SAM)
|-
|[[MIM-104 Patriot]]||[[United States]]||SAM system|| 6 squadrons, 36 launchers, 320 missiles||
|-
|[[S-300 missile system|S-300 PMU 1]]||[[Russia]]||SAM system||1 squadron, 4 systems, 32 launchers, 176 48n6 missiles||
|-
|[[SA-15 Gauntlet|TOR M1]]||[[Russia]]||SAM system||4 systems, 16 launchers protecting S300 batteries<ref name=":03"/>||
|-
|[[RIM-7 Sea Sparrow]]||[[United States]]||SAM system||20 launchers<ref name=":03"/>||Part of the [[Oerlikon GDF|Skyguard]] air defence system
|-
|[[Crotale (missile)|Crotale]]||[[France]]||SAM system||9 systems, 18 launchers<ref name=":03"/>||
|-
!colspan=5 style="align:center; background:lavender"|[[Anti-aircraft warfare|Air Defence Artillery]]
|-
|[[Oerlikon GDF]]||[[Switzerland]]||Anti-aircraft gun||40 guns<ref name=":03"/>||Part of the [[Oerlikon GDF|Skyguard]] air defense system
|-
|[[Rheinmetall Mk 20 Rh-202]]<ref name=":03"/>||[[Germany]]||Anti-aircraft gun||n/a||
|}

==Organisation==
{{Further|Structure of the Hellenic Air Force}}

==Personnel==
===Ranks===
{{Main|Greek military ranks}}
;Officer ranks
{|style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0px 12px 12px 0px"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OF/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OF/Greece}}
|}

;Other ranks
{|style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0px 12px 12px 0px"
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OR/Blank}}
{{Ranks and Insignia of NATO Air Forces/OR/Greece}}
|}

==Aircraft markings and camouflage==
The primary camouflage scheme utilised by the Hellenic Air Force is the ''Aegean Ghost'' ({{Lang-el|Φάντασμα του Αιγαίου}}) scheme.  This is modified slightly for each aircraft type, but is standard for all combat and transport aircraft in the inventory.  Some training, search-and-rescue, and firefighting aircraft are coloured partially or completely in high-visibility colours for identification and easier location in case of an accident.  The air force also frequently uses colourful commemorative schemes to mark anniversaries and other special occasions or for display purposes.  National markings are applied to all aircraft, with the national roundel consisting of concentric blue, white, and blue rings, displayed on the fuselage sides and wing surfaces, and a tricolour [[fin flash]] of similar blue, white, and blue vertical stripes on the tail fin.  The words ''Πολεμική Αεροπορία'' (or simply the abbreviation ''ΠΑ'') are applied to the fuselage as well, although this is less common in current schemes.  Aircraft in Aegean Ghost scheme may have low visibility markings applied in which blue is replaced by dark grey and white by light grey.

Originally, many aircraft in service retained the basic colour scheme they were acquired in.  Prior to World War II, combat aircraft were given a green and brown top scheme with white or sky blue underside, similar to the [[Royal Air Force]].  After the war, jet fighter aircraft such as the Sabre and Starfighter would serve in a polished metal scheme.  Later, most aircraft received green and brown camouflage again, consistent with the United States Air Force's South East Asia scheme, referred to as Vietnam camouflage in Greece.  A-7 Corsair IIs would be some of the last aircraft to fly with this scheme, retaining it until their retirement, long after all-over grey schemes had become the normal application for Greek aircraft.  C-130 Hercules transports which were used in south-east Asia early in their careers were repainted in an overall grey theme.

<gallery class=center>
File:Roundel of Greece – Type A.svg|Original proportions
File:Roundel of Greece – Type C1.svg|Variation used during WWII on some aircraft
File:Roundel of Greece.svg|Current proportions
File:Fin Flash of Greece.svg|Fin flash
</gallery>

==Aircraft accidents and incidents==
{{Main|List of aviation accidents and incidents in Greece}}
The worst accident in the history of the Hellenic Air Force occurred on 5 February 1991, when [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]] [[C-130 Hercules|C-130H Hercules]] s/n: 748 crashed into [[Mount Othrys]] during the landing approach to [[Nea Anchialos]].  Sixty-three people were killed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The latest accident occurred on 30 January 2023, when a Hellenic Air Force upgraded two-seated [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4E Phantom]] crashed in the [[Ionian Sea|Ionian sea]] at around 10:30&nbsp;am, 25 nautical miles (46,3&nbsp;km) south of [[Andravida Air Base|Andravida air base]].  The aircraft belonged to the 338th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 117th Combat Wing based in [[Andravida]].  The accident occurred during a training exercise with another F-4E that successfully returned to base, the aircraft that crashed was the No.2 of the flight formation.  According to early sources, shortly before the crash, the two pilots sent a [[distress signal]] that they would abandon the aircraft and use the [[ejection seat]]s, later it was indicated that neither of the pilots ejected from the aircraft.  A large [[Search and rescue|search and rescue operation]] involving helicopters and ships from the Hellenic Air Force, the [[Hellenic Navy]], and the [[Hellenic Coast Guard]] was set to find and rescue the pilots.  The co-pilot was confirmed killed, while the captain was declared dead a few days later.  It is still unclear what caused the crash, but some speculate that it was due to a technical failure.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Σκουλαράκος|first=Βασίλης|date=2023-01-30|title=Έπεσε F-4 Phantom της Πολεμικής Αεροπορίας, νότια της Ανδραβίδας - Αγνοούνται οι χειριστές|url=https://www.newsbomb.gr/ellada/story/1392886/epese-fantom-tis-polemikis-aeroporias-notia-tis-andravidas|access-date=2023-01-30|website=Newsbomb.gr|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-01-30|title=Πολεμική Αεροπορία: Έπεσε μαχητικό F4 στη θάλασσα νότια της Ανδραβίδας!|url=https://lawandorder.gr/polemiki-aeroporia-epese-machitiko-f4-sti-thalassa-notia-tis-andravidas/|website=LawAndOrder.gr|access-date=2023-01-30|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ελλάδα: Πτώση μαχητικού F-4 Phantom - Σε εξέλιξη έρευνα για τους χειριστές|url=https://www.sigmalive.com/news/greece/1061402/ellada-epese-maxitiko-f4-sti-thalassa-notia-tis-andravidas|access-date=2023-01-30|website=SigmaLive.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-01-30|title=Πολεμική Αεροπορία - Ανδραβίδα: Δεν πρόλαβαν να εγκαταλείψουν το F-4 οι χειριστές του|url=https://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/1334266/polemiki-aeroporia-den-prolavan-na-egataleipsoun-to-f-4-oi-heiristes-tou/|access-date=2023-01-30|website=ProtoThema.gr|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Αεροπορία|first=Πολεμική|date=2023-01-30|title=Πτώση Αεροσκάφους F-4E Phantom II - ΑΤ003/2023|url=https://www.haf.gr/2023/01/ptosi-aeroskafoys-f-4e-phantom-ii-at003-2023/|website=HAF.gr|access-date=2023-01-30|publisher=Πολεμική Αεροπορία|language=el}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of flying aces from Greece]]
*[[Hellenic Air Force Academy]]
*[[Hellenic Aerospace Industry]]
*[[Sedes Air Base]]
*[[Kavala AirSea Show]]
*[[Hellenic Air Force Museum]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Cite book|last=Carr|first=John|date=2012|title=On Spartan Wings|publisher=Barnsley, SY, Pens & Sword Military|isbn=978-1-84884-798-9}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
*George J. Beldecos et al. ''Hellenic Wings: An Illustrated History of the Hellenic Air Force and its Precursors - 1908–1944'', pub. Air Historical Branch (HAF), 1st edition (1999)
*A. Tsagaratos (editor): ''Hellenic Air Force Yearbook 2010/B'', ''Special Projects'', Athens, Greece, ISSN 1790-4102 (2011). Page 8 contains a summary Order of Battle and a summary aircraft inventory, as of December 2010.
*''World Military Aircraft Inventory, Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 15 January 2007''
*''The Library of Congress Country Studies, CIA World Factbook''
*[http://www.photius.com/countries/greece/national_security/greece_national_security_the_hellenic_air_for~220.html Greece – The Hellenic Air Force]
*{{Cite book|author=E. A. Pagotsis|date=2008|title=Hellenic Defence Review 2008–2009|url=http://www.hellenicdefence.gr|publisher=Line Defence Public Ltd|location=Athens|pages=128–159}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070828100010/http://www.ellinikos-stratos.com/aeroporia/aeroplana_1.asp Aircraft Inventory (Greek)]

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.haf.gr/en/ Hellenic Air Force] — official website
*[https://www.mod.mil.gr/en/ Hellenic Republic Ministry of National Defence] — official website

{{Greek Military}}
{{Hellenic Air Force equipment}}
{{Hellenic Air Force squadrons}}
{{Greece topics}}
{{Air forces in Europe}}
{{Air forces}}
{{Allied Air Command}}
{{Portal bar|Greece|Aviation|History}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hellenic Air Force| ]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1930]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in Greece]]