Greece is exploring the possibility of the acquisition of eight to twelve additional F-35 fighter jets on top of the twenty already under production in the United States (US) for the Hellenic Air Force. The first of these jets is expected to be delivered by 2028.
The discussions come as negotiations with the US over upgrading 38 F-16 Block 50 aircraft have stalled. Both sides have been in talks for nearly five years, raising concerns in Athens about the operational impact of further delays.
Key challenge: Aging F-16 fleet
A major issue is that, by the time the F-16 upgrades are completed, the Hellenic Air Force could receive aircraft with outdated configurations, as these may not be completed before 2031.
This is prompting Greece to consider supplementing its fleet with additional F-35s, which offer significantly enhanced capabilities compared to upgraded F-16 Block 50s. While the upgrades will extend the F-16s’ service life, further interventions will likely be needed prior to the end of the next decade.
Greece-US negotiations for F-16
According to recent talks, the US has confirmed that the F-16 Block 50 upgrade could cost around €900 million (approximately $980 million), far lower than the initial estimate of €1.9 billion (around $2.1 billion).
Greece, in turn, agreed that the work could be carried out at the Hellenic Defense Industry facilities, meeting Lockheed Martin’s requirements. Initially, the Air Force had requested that the upgrades be performed at the 111th Combat Wing in Nea Anchialos.
In contrast to the upgraded F-16s, the F-35s will offer significantly superior capabilities and are expected to remain operational for the next fifty years. Although it is highly likely that Greece could operate thirty F-35s instead of twenty within the next decade, similar expansions are not guaranteed for other US-made systems currently under consideration.
Modernizing transport aircraft
Athens also seeks to modernize its transport aircraft fleet. Despite improvements in the availability of older US-supplied C-130H aircraft, these planes are aging and increasingly difficult to maintain.
While Greece is discussing C-130J acquisitions, there is greater interest in Embraer’s medium-sized C-390 jet transport aircraft. Several EU countries, including Portugal, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Sweden, have already selected the C-390.
Negotiations for the potential acquisition of C-390s are being conducted with Portugal, which operates its own C-390 fleet and provides a framework for a more straightforward intergovernmental agreement within the EU.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
