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update sourcing 2024 - clean up mess |
Greece has acquired a total of 170 F-16 aircraft through the four procurement programs Peace Xenia I - IV. According to that source, 18 of these aircraft have crashed and/or wrecked out. Therefore, the number of remaining aircraft should be corrected from 154 to 152. Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
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[[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 [[
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.
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
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>
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===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
The first [[jet fighter]] flown by the RHAF was the [[Republic F-
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.
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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 Armend 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/ |website=forbes.com |publisher=Forbes |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref>
==Developing programmes==
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===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 | 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
===F-35===
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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
and 79 modernisation kits for its F-16C's.
===C-390===
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==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
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
===The Balkans===
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In December 2020, Greece and Israel came closer to a €1.4 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>
==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}}▼
|}▼
==Equipment==
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|6 on order<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|-
| [[Dassault Mirage 2000-5|Mirage 2000]]
| France
| multirole
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|[[Multirole combat aircraft|multirole]]
| [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16C/D|F-16C/D]]
| 152<ref>{{Cite web |title=F-16.net - The ultimate F-16, F-35 and F-22 reference |url=https://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/mishaps-and-accidents/airforce/HAF/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=www.f-16.net}}</ref>
| 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"/>
|-
| [[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 |publisher=Army Recognition |access-date=14 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Maritime Patrol]]
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| [[Lockheed P-3 Orion]]
| United States
| [[Maritime patrol aircraft|
|
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
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| water bomber
|
|
|
|-
| [[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 |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]]
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|
|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]]
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|jet trainer
|[[Trainer aircraft#Lead-in fighter training|LIFT]]
|
|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]]
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| 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 |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>
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!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,
|-
|[[S-300 missile system|S-300 PMU 1]]||[[Russia]]||SAM system||1 squadron, 4
|-
|[[SA-15 Gauntlet|TOR M1]]||[[Russia]]||SAM system||4 systems, 16 launchers protecting S300 batteries<ref name=":03">{{Cite book|author=The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)|date=2023-02-15|url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003400226|title=The Military Balance 2023|location=[[London]], England|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-003-40022-6|edition=1|doi=10.4324/9781003400226}}</ref>||
|-
|[[RIM-7 Sea Sparrow]]||[[United States]]||SAM system||20 launchers<ref name=":03"/>||Part of the [[Oerlikon GDF|Skyguard]] air defence system
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|-
|[[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}}
|}
|