Hellenic Air Force: Difference between revisions

At the end of 1936, Greece ordered 36 Polish [[PZL P.24]] fighter aircraft, which, after completion of deliveries in 1938, 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.

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>

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 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>

| [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35 Lightning II]]

| [[United States]]

| 20+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>

|[[S-300 missile system|S-300 PMU 1]]||[[Russia]]||SAM system||21 squadronssquadron, 124 batteries, 36 launchers||