Greece formally accepted an offer for 20 F-35A Lightning II jets with an option for an additional 20 aircraft.
On July 25, 2024, the Greek government formalized its decision to procure 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft by signing a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) through a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale. The LOA also includes an option for an additional 20 aircraft.
“We are excited to welcome Greece into the F-35 enterprise,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, director and program executive officer, F-35 Joint Program Office. “The F-35 will provide exceptional capability to the Hellenic Air Force, enhance interoperability among our allies, and strengthen the combat effectiveness of NATO.”
“For several decades, the Hellenic Air Force has been our partner, and it is our honor to continue that relationship as Greece becomes the 19th nation to join the F-35 program,” said Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. “The F-35 is the only fighter suitable to bolster Greece’s sovereignty and operational capability with allies.”
On November 6, 2020, the Greek government formally requested an urgent acquisition of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II 5th generation aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force through a Letter of Request (LOR) to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The U.S. State Department approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Greece for up to 40 F-35A 5th gen. fighter jets along with 42 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines (40 installed and 2 spares), for an estimated cost of 8.6 billion USD. The United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the Congress of the possible sale on Jan. 26, 2024.
The deal signed on Jul. 25, 2024 covers the first 20 aircraft with support (maybe weapons too?), for a total cost of 3.5 billion USD.
Largest investment program for the Hellenic Air Force
The procurement of F-35s is set to become the Hellenic Air Force’s largest investment program to date and one of several modernization efforts Athens has initiated in recent years to upgrade its military capabilities.
Greece is indeed undertaking a comprehensive military modernization program following a prolonged financial crisis and amid tensions with Turkey. Ankara was removed from the F-35 program after deciding to purchase the Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system, a move viewed by the United States as a threat to NATO security.
In Athens, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis called the current military upgrade initiative the most significant in “many decades” the Associated Press reported. “We will continue to implement this major program, equipping our country and strengthening its defenses,” Marinakis stated.
Since Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 program, Athens has been striving to gain an air superiority edge through several acquisition and upgrade programs.
In 2021, the HAF started receiving the first of 18 Dassault Rafale jets to replace the older, non-upgraded Mirage 2000EG/BG models and complment the newer Mirage 2000-5 Mk II.
Additionally, the HAF is upgrading 82 of its 153 F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft to the F-16V Block 70 configuration. This upgrade program will continue until 2027, with the first two aircraft handed back after the upgrade and a test campaign in the United States in September 2022. Along with the F-16V upgrade, the HAF also opted to perform a subsequent in-house upgrade of the F-16C/Ds Block 50 by using equipment removed during the Block 72 upgrade from the other aircraft. With this upgrade the Block 50 Vipers will be reportedly brought to the to the M6 avionic configuration.
In July 2022, the Greek government signed a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to purchase four MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and to modernize the 11 S-70B6 Aegean Hawk helicopters currently in service with the Greek Navy. The contract for this Foreign Military Sale (FMS) was awarded to Lockheed Martin in October. More, recently, in April 2024, the Greek government officially finalized its purchase of 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the United States. This foreign military sale, approved by the U.S. State Department in 2023, is valued at approximately 1.95 billion USD.
In 2022, an upgrade program for 19 AH-64 Apache helicopters was also announced. Elbit Systems will provide the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor System (M-TADS/PNVS) and the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS). The Apaches will also be equipped with the Rafael Spike NLOS fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile, which may replace or complement the AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. The Aegean Hawk helicopters are also expected to receive this new weapon system.
In addition to the F-35s, Greece has requested two C-130H aircraft and pricing information for the more advanced C-130J models; ten engines for the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft; three Protector-class ships; and sixty M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Notably, the Greek government also expressed interest in acquiring second-hand KC-135 aircraft.
F-35 scores yet another win
With the latest win, the F-35 confirms to be the preferred fighter for NATO allied and international partners. Besides Greece, the 5th generation aircraft has been so far been chosen by the United States, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Poland, Singapore, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and, soon, Romania.
By the 2030s, over 600 F-35s will be operational across more than 10 European countries”The F-35’s growing presence across Europe is a powerful testament to alliance-based deterrence and sets the foundation for the next generation of air power capability for NATO and allied nations,” said Mara Motherway, Lockheed Martin vice president of Strategy and Business Development in an official release.
To date, the F-35 operates from 32 bases worldwide, with 10 nations flying F-35s on home soil. Nearly 1,000 aircraft are operational, amassing over 860,000 flight hours fleet-wide. And some partners are also considering expanding their current fleets.
