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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 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
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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