Greece Considers Expanding F-35 Fleet Amid F-16 Upgrade Delays

Greece considers expanding F-35 fleet Credit: Flickr / Heath Cajandig / CC BY 2-0

Greece is exploring the anticipation of the acquisition of 8 to 12 further F-35 combatant jets, connected apical of the 20 already nether accumulation successful the United States (US) for the Hellenic Air Force. The archetypal of these jets is expected to beryllium delivered by 2028.

The discussions travel arsenic negotiations with the US implicit upgrading 38 F-16 Block 50 craft person stalled. Both sides person been successful talks for astir 5 years, raising concerns successful Athens astir the operational interaction of further delays.

Key Challenge: Aging F-16 Fleet

A large contented is that, by the clip the F-16 upgrades are completed, the Hellenic Air Force could person craft with outdated configurations, arsenic the process whitethorn not decorativeness earlier 2031.

This is prompting Greece to see supplementing its fleet with further F-35s, which connection importantly enhanced capabilities compared to upgraded F-16 Block 50s. While the upgrades volition widen the F-16s’ work life, further interventions volition apt beryllium needed earlier the extremity of the adjacent decade.

Greece-US Negotiations for F-16

Recent talks suggest the US has agreed that the F-16 Block 50 upgrade could outgo astir €900 cardinal (approximately $980 million), acold little than the archetypal estimation of €1.9 billion(around $2.1 billion).

Greece, successful turn, agreed that the enactment could beryllium carried retired astatine the Hellenic Defense Industry facilities, gathering Lockheed Martin’s requirements. Initially, the Air Force had requested the upgrades to beryllium performed astatine the 111th Combat Wing successful Nea Anchialos.

In opposition to the upgraded F-16s, the F-35s volition connection importantly superior capabilities and are expected to stay operational for the adjacent 50 years. Although it is highly apt that Greece could run 30 F-35s alternatively of 20 wrong the adjacent decade, akin expansions are not guaranteed for different US-made systems presently nether consideration.

Modernizing Transport Aircraft

Athens besides seeks to modernize its transport craft fleet. Despite improvements successful the availability of older US-supplied C-130H aircraft, these planes are aging and progressively hard to maintain.

While Greece is discussing C-130J acquisitions, determination is stronger involvement successful Embraer’s medium-sized C-390 pitchy transport aircraft. Several EU countries, including Portugal, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Sweden, person already selected the C-390.

Negotiations for the potential acquisition of C-390s are being conducted with Portugal, which operates its ain C-390 fleet and provides a model for a much straightforward intergovernmental statement wrong the EU.