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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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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-
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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===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 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>
===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.
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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]]
|
| multirole
| [[F-
|
| 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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|7<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>
|One aircraft is dedicated for [[Search and rescue|SAR]].<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/>
|One aircraft is dedicated for [[Search and rescue|SAR]].<ref name="World Air Forces 2024"/> 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>▼
|-
| [[Bombardier CL-215]]
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|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
|
|
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|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| [[Military transport aircraft|Transport]]
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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>||
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