FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
On January 15, the American F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin announced the delivery of the 30th F-16 "Viper" to the Hellenic Air Force, adding that this upgrade "strengthens Greece's defenses and its ability to operate seamlessly with allied forces."
As reported by eurasiantimes.com, Greece is in the process of modernizing its F-16 Block 50/52 fighter jets to advanced Viper standards, bringing them in line with the capabilities of the latest F-16 Block 70/72 models.
The upgrade initiative began in 2017, when the Trump administration formally notified Congress of the potential sale of up to 123 Viper upgrade kits to Greece. After negotiations, the two sides agreed to a total of 83 kits, allowing for significant upgrades to Greece's aging F-16 fleet, with the project estimated to cost around $1.5 billion.
The first two upgraded F-16Vs were delivered in September 2022, while the full upgrade program is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. A prominent election year....
improvements
The modernization is being carried out by Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAB), with Lockheed Martin overseeing the process. The F-16 Viper upgrade includes several critical improvements, including a modified digital flight control computer that provides automatic ground collision avoidance capabilities and a pilot-activated recovery system.
Other major upgrades include the APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, Modular Mission Computer (MMC-7000AH), advanced data transfer equipment, and improved center stage displays.
In addition, the aircraft will feature the APX-126 Advanced Identification Friend-or-Foe System with Mode 5 capability, integrated GPS/inertial navigation system, SNIPER arrays, PaveWay II interface, and enhanced Link-16 communications capabilities.
The history of the F-16
F-16s have long been a cornerstone of the Hellenic Air Force. The country's F-16 program began in 1984, when Greece sought to replace its aging fleet of F-5A/B Freedom Fighters.
The Greek government signed the first contract, Peace Xenia I, in January 1987 and the first aircraft arrived in 1989.
Since then, Greece has purchased 170 F-16s in various blocks, including 30, 50 and 52. To date, Greece has approximately 154 F-16s, which make up the bulk of its 221 fighter jets in service.
Fighter jet combination
Greece boosts air power with upgraded F-16s, Rafales & F-35s
The delivery of the upgraded F-16 fighter jets comes shortly after the completion of Rafale deliveries. Rafales are undoubtedly the flagship of the current Hellenic Air Force fleet. However, the Rafales and upgraded F-16 Vipers are not the only additions to the Hellenic Air Force’s arsenal. In July 2024, Greece signed an agreement with the US government to purchase 20 F-35A fighter jets. This agreement also includes an option for 20 additional aircraft.
Aegean Skies
This modernization effort is of particular importance in the context of the ongoing Greek-Turkish rivalry in the Aegean.
Surprisingly, Turkey had originally planned to purchase a fleet of at least 100 F-35s long before Greece came on board, only to be sidelined by the controversial purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems.
That said, efforts to modernize the Hellenic Air Force are driven primarily by the need to counter Turkey's expanding military influence in the eastern Mediterranean.
A key concern for Greece is the potential impact of the construction of the Russian S-400 system, which could pose significant challenges to its aviation operations. The acquisition of the F-35 is seen as a critical strategy for mitigating this threat and maintaining air superiority in the region.
Comparison with Turkey
According to EurasianTimes, Turkey currently enjoys a numerical advantage in fighter jets and while it may not receive the F-35, it is developing the indigenous next-generation fighter TF Kaan. In addition, there are reports that Turkey may purchase Eurofighter Typhoons, which will counter the Greek Rafales.
However, these aircraft would still fall short of the F-35 in terms of stealth capabilities and overall maneuverability. /Adapted Pamphlet from Newsbomb.gr/
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