Greece has confirmed its intention to purchase an initial batch of 20 F-35 stealth fighters, valued at approximately $3.5 billion. This significant acquisition represents a crucial step in the modernization of the Hellenic Air Force, which has also recently integrated other new combat aircraft while planning to retire older jets. This move is especially notable in light of Greece’s strained relations with Turkey, a fellow NATO member, which was excluded from the F-35 program after acquiring Russian-made S-400 air defense systems.
Greece’s Modernization Efforts
Lockheed Martin announced that Athens had signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), finalizing the intent to purchase 20 F-35A aircraft under a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale. The LOA also includes an option for 20 additional aircraft, which would increase the total value of the deal to around $8.6 billion, according to the Greek Ministry of Defense. Deliveries of these jets are expected to commence in 2028.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, director and program executive officer at the F-35 Joint Program Office, expressed enthusiasm about Greece joining the F-35 program, emphasizing the enhanced capabilities the aircraft would bring to the Hellenic Air Force and the increased interoperability among NATO allies.
Historical Context and Procurement Details
Greek interest in the F-35 dates back to at least late 2020, when Athens formally requested information from the Pentagon on acquiring between 18 and 24 of the jets. The Greek newspaper Proto Thema reported that the Ministry of Defense sent a formal Letter of Request (LOR) to the U.S. Department of Defense in November 2020, seeking the immediate purchase of new or former U.S. Air Force F-35As, or a combination of both.
The LOA confirms the procurement of new-build jets, which are expected to arrive in the latest Block 4 configuration or have the potential to fully exploit these advances. Early-production F-35s offer less combat capability and are harder to sustain, making new-build jets a more sensible option from a capabilities standpoint.
Deployment and Integration
The F-35s will be based at Andravida, located in the northwest of Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula. They will be operated by the 117 Combat Wing, which previously flew F-4E Phantoms before being disbanded. This acquisition continues the major modernization of the Hellenic Air Force, which began inducting French-made Dassault Rafale multirole fighters in early 2022. The initial batch comprised 18 jets, 12 of them former French Air Force aircraft, and the remaining six being new-build jets. An additional six aircraft were later added, bringing the total to 24, with plans to purchase at least 10 more Rafales.
Modernization and Strategic Context
Greece’s modernization efforts also include plans to retire its early-model F-16s, some French-made Mirage 2000 fighters, and its last F-4E Phantoms. These retired jets could be attractive on the secondhand market, with reports suggesting that the F-16s might be transferred to Ukraine.
The decision to purchase F-35s also underscores Greece’s strategic considerations regarding its regional rival, Turkey. Long before Greece’s interest in the F-35, Turkey had planned to acquire at least 100 of the jets. However, Turkey was removed from the Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019 due to its purchase of the S-400 air defense systems from Russia.
In October 2020, the Greek newspaper Estia reported that Greece might receive the F-35s initially ordered by Turkey, at least 14 of which were built and subsequently withheld before being transferred to the U.S. Air Force.
Regional Tensions and Military Balance
Greece’s acquisition of F-35s is part of a broader strategy to counter Turkey’s growing military ambitions in the eastern Mediterranean and beyond. The Greek armed forces are particularly concerned about the threat posed by Turkey’s S-400 systems, which could interfere with the Hellenic Air Force’s operations.
Despite not receiving F-35s, Turkey continues to modernize its military capabilities with plans to introduce new combat equipment, including the TF Kaan new-generation crewed fighter, the ANKA-3 low-observable flying wing unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), and the fighter-like Bayraktar Kizilelma UCAV. Ankara has also hinted at acquiring Eurofighter Typhoons, which would offset Greece’s Rafales but still fall short of matching the F-35’s all-around capabilities.
In June, Turkey moved forward with plans to purchase 40 advanced new-build F-16s and upgrade 80 of its existing Vipers, following U.S. government efforts to advance the deal. However, recent reports indicate that Ankara may scale back these purchases and push for more domestic industrial offsets.
Strategic Implications
The combination of Rafales and F-35s will provide the Hellenic Air Force with a balanced fleet, not entirely dependent on a single source country. In a potential conflict with Turkey, Greece’s Rafales and F-35s, supported by advanced and upgraded F-16s, would likely secure air superiority over the Aegean region. These aircraft could operate from dispersed island bases, conduct long-range land-attack missions, and perform anti-shipping strikes.
For such missions, the F-35 can use the air-launched Joint Strike Missile (JSM), a version of the stealthy Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile. This missile has also been ordered by the U.S. Air Force, Finland, and Japan, with Italy planning to arm some of its F-35s with the weapon. Greece is a logical candidate for this missile as well.
Enhancing Regional Capabilities
The introduction of F-35s promises a significant capability boost for the Hellenic Air Force. Greek Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis recently highlighted the strategic advantage these aircraft provide, stating that with F-35s, Greece could potentially reach Ankara swiftly, a statement underscoring the tactical superiority the F-35 brings.
By the 2030s, Lockheed Martin anticipates more than 600 F-35s fielded by over 10 European countries, including two U.S. Air Force F-35A squadrons permanently stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England. This widespread deployment within NATO and Europe promises enhanced interoperability across the continent.
Potential Challenges
However, there are potential challenges Greece might face in receiving the fully capable Block 4 jets by 2028. F-35 deliveries were recently resumed after being suspended for about a year due to issues with the Tech Refresh 3 (TR-3) software, critical for the Block 4 improvements.
The Block 4 upgrade will introduce advanced new capabilities, including increased processing power, new displays, enhanced cooling, new electro-optical sensors, and a range of additional weapons. The most critical upgrade is a new radar and electronic warfare suite. However, it was disclosed earlier this year that the Block 4 upgrade would need to be “reimagined,” with some elements delayed until the 2030s. This means Greece might receive its initial F-35s without the full suite of Block 4 improvements.
Despite potential delays in receiving the full Block 4 capabilities, Greece’s acquisition of the F-35 further cements its strategic position within Europe and NATO. The integration of F-35s into the Hellenic Air Force will provide a substantial boost in capability, particularly in the context of its longstanding rivalry with Turkey. As Greece continues its military modernization, the F-35 will play a crucial role in enhancing its defense posture and maintaining regional stability.
APPENDIX 1 – Comprehensive Scheme Table of Greece’s Military Capabilities
| Category | Type | Name/Model | Technical Specifications | Operational Details | Armaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Forces | Main Battle Tanks | Leopard 2A6 HEL | 120mm Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore, 1,500 hp engine, composite armor | Active service | 120mm gun, coaxial 7.62mm MG |
| Main Battle Tanks | Leopard 1A5 | 105mm Royal Ordnance L7A3, 830 hp engine, rolled homogeneous armor | Active service | 105mm gun, coaxial 7.62mm MG | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicles | BMP-1 | 73mm 2A28 Grom gun, 300 hp engine, welded steel armor | Active service | 73mm gun, ATGM launcher, 7.62mm MG | |
| Armored Personnel Carriers | M113 | 12.7mm M2 Browning machine gun, 215 hp engine, aluminum armor | Active service | 12.7mm MG | |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | PzH 2000 | 155mm Rheinmetall gun, automated loading, 986 hp engine, steel armor | Active service | 155mm gun | |
| Rocket Artillery | RM-70 | 122mm rockets, range up to 20 km, 253 hp engine, light steel armor | Active service | 40 x 122mm rockets | |
| Air Force | Fighter Jets | F-16C/D Block 52+ | Max speed Mach 2.05, combat radius 550 km, AN/APG-68 radar | Active service | AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-88 HARM, bombs |
| Fighter Jets | Dassault Rafale | Max speed Mach 1.8, combat radius 1,852 km, RBE2-AA radar | Active service | Meteor, MICA, SCALP EG, Exocet | |
| Stealth Fighters | F-35A | Max speed Mach 1.6, combat radius 1,093 km, AN/APG-81 AESA radar | Ordered, deliveries from 2028 | AIM-120 AMRAAM, GBU-31 JDAM, SDB II | |
| Transport Aircraft | C-130 Hercules | Payload capacity 19,050 kg, range 3,800 km, 4x Allison T56-A-15 engines | Active service | N/A | |
| Helicopters | AH-64 Apache | Max speed 365 km/h, range 476 km, AN/APG-78 Longbow radar | Active service | Hellfire missiles, 30mm chain gun | |
| Naval Forces | Frigates | Hydra-class (MEKO 200) | Displacement 3,200 tons, max speed 31 knots, CODOG propulsion | Active service | Harpoon SSM, Sea Sparrow SAM, torpedoes |
| Submarines | Type 214 (Papanikolis class) | Displacement 1,860 tons (surfaced), max speed 20 knots (submerged) | Active service | Torpedoes, Harpoon SSM | |
| Fast Attack Craft | Roussen-class (Super Vita) | Displacement 580 tons, max speed 35 knots, 4x MTU 16V 595 TE90 engines | Active service | Exocet SSM, RAM SAM, 76mm gun | |
| Landing Ships | Jason-class | Displacement 4,290 tons, max speed 16 knots, diesel engines | Active service | 76mm gun, 40mm AA guns | |
| Missile Systems | Surface-to-Air Missiles | S-300 PMU-1 | Engagement range 150 km, max altitude 27 km, Mach 6 speed | Active service | 48N6E2 missiles |
| Surface-to-Air Missiles | S-400 Triumf | Engagement range 400 km, max altitude 30 km, Mach 6 speed | Active service | 40N6, 48N6, 9M96E2 missiles | |
| Anti-Tank Missiles | Kornet-E | Range 5.5 km, tandem-charge warhead, 250 m/s speed | Active service | 9M133 missiles | |
| Ballistic Missiles | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Nuclear Capability | Nuclear Weapons | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Detailed Analysis
Land Forces
The Hellenic Army is equipped with a variety of main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery systems. The Leopard 2A6 HEL and Leopard 1A5 are the primary main battle tanks, providing robust firepower and protection. Infantry fighting vehicles like the BMP-1 enhance troop mobility and fire support, while self-propelled artillery and rocket artillery such as the PzH 2000 and RM-70 deliver long-range firepower.
Air Force
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) operates a mix of advanced fighter jets, including the F-16C/D Block 52+ and the recently acquired Dassault Rafale. These aircraft provide versatile air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, equipped with advanced missiles and precision-guided munitions. The future addition of F-35A stealth fighters will further enhance Greece’s air superiority and interoperability within NATO.
Naval Forces
The Hellenic Navy maintains a balanced fleet of frigates, submarines, fast attack craft, and landing ships. Hydra-class frigates, armed with anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles, form the backbone of Greece’s naval defense. Type 214 submarines offer advanced underwater capabilities, while Roussen-class fast attack craft provide rapid-response capabilities in coastal areas.
Missile Systems
Greece’s missile capabilities include surface-to-air systems like the S-300 PMU-1 and the more advanced S-400 Triumf, offering long-range air defense against various aerial threats. The Kornet-E anti-tank missiles provide effective ground-based anti-armor capabilities. However, Greece does not possess ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons.
Greece’s military capabilities are robust and diverse, encompassing modern land, air, and naval forces equipped with advanced technology and weaponry. The ongoing modernization efforts, including the acquisition of F-35 stealth fighters and other advanced systems, ensure that Greece remains a formidable force within NATO and the broader region. This comprehensive overview highlights the significant investments and strategic considerations that underpin Greece’s defense posture, reflecting its commitment to maintaining security and stability in the eastern Mediterranean.
