Hellenic Air Force: Difference between revisions

During the [[BattleGreco–Italian of GreeceWar|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^a ''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|CantCANT Z1007bisZ.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 Royal Air ForceRAF]] (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 almostmost of the entireRoyal 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]].

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 incudingincluding [[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-8484F ThunderjetThunderstreak|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.

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 AugustJuly 20232024, ten20 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|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>

On 27th27 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>

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 seaSea]] 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 betweenof a Greek F-16 andwhere 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>

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, undetected, 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>

| [[Dassault Mirage 2000-5|Mirage 2000]]

| [[Maritime patrol aircraft| patrol]] / [[Anti-submarine warfare |ASW]]

|87<ref name="World Air Forces 2016">{{cite web|last= |first= |url= https://d3fod5fkpt74ph.cloudfront.net/f5975bad82fe4e9e8d7f2e21e2e6f39e/3395ff5ac4d54a05bf6baa0c63895356.pdf|title= World Air Forces 2016|work= |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>

|oneOne aircraft is dedicated for [[Search and rescue|SAR]].<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>

|35

|[[MIM-104 Patriot]]||[[United States]]||SAM system|| 6 squadrons, 2 command centres with 6 batteries each, with 636 launchers||

|[[S-300 missile system|S-300 PMU 1]]||[[Russia]]||SAM system||1 squadron, 4 systemsbatteries, 3236 launchers||

|[[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>||