Breaking News: Greece considers buying more F-35 fighter jets from the US to keep its air force effective for decades
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As reported by Kathimerini on September 12, 2025, Greece is reassessing the modernization of its fighter fleet as the negotiations with the United States regarding the upgrade of 38 F-16 Block 50s remain unresolved after nearly five years. The main concern in Athens is that the modernization, if completed by 2031 or 2032, could deliver a variant that is already outdated by the time it enters service. This has prompted consideration of an alternative course, namely the acquisition of 8 to 12 additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft, beyond the 20 already under contract.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Greece’s first F-35As will be used for training in the US before joining the 117th Fighter Wing at Andravida in the early 2030s. (Picture source: F-35 Demo Team)
The first F-35A for Greece is scheduled to be ready in 2028, and deliveries will initially take place in the United States for training before aircraft are based at the 117th Fighter Wing in Andravida in the early 2030s. In contrast, the modernization of the F-16 Block 50s, even at reduced cost, would require further interventions before the end of the next decade. The F-16 Block 50 negotiations have lowered the estimated cost from an initial €1.9 billion to approximately €900 million. A condition set by Lockheed Martin was that the work be conducted at Hellenic Aerospace Industry facilities, a requirement Athens eventually accepted, despite an initial preference for upgrades at the 111th Combat Wing in Nea Anchialos. The modernization path remains technically feasible but carries timing and configuration risks, which are considered by Greek planners alongside the option of further F-35 orders. By contrast, the F-35A is expected to remain operational for fifty years, with higher interoperability, particularly when paired with the Rafale fleet and upgraded F-16 Vipers. This long-term operational relevance is one of the key arguments for expanding the F-35 program rather than investing further in intermediate modernization efforts.
The F-35A offers several advantages over the F-16 Block 70/72 (Viper) that may be considered advantageous by the Hellenic Air Force. The F-35A is designed with features for reduced radar cross-section, internal weapons bays, and shaping and materials that decrease its observability to radar, whereas the Block 70 lacks stealth to the same degree and must carry many weapons or fuel tanks externally, which increases drag and exposure. The F-35A carries substantially more internal fuel than the F-16 Block 70, enabling a greater combat radius without external tanks or frequent aerial refueling, and its aerodynamic and propulsion characteristics allow it to cruise with lower detectability. Its avionics suite includes sensor fusion, more advanced electronic warfare capabilities, low probability of intercept radar, and greater capacity for integrating future weapons and sensors under software upgrade paths (such as newer Block versions) than the current systems in the Block 70. The Block 70 does include AESA radar, modern cockpit displays, conformal fuel tanks, and upgraded electronic warfare systems, which improve over earlier F-16 variants, but these improvements do not address stealth or internal carriage trade-offs to the same extent. These differences influence mission profiles: for missions requiring penetration into contested airspace, long-range strike, or operations under air defense threat, the F-35A offers profile advantages that the Block 70 does not match.
Greece finalized its first F-35 procurement in July 2024 with the signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for 20 aircraft valued at €3.47 billion. This agreement includes two spare engines, four simulators, training for pilots and technicians, and four years of Full Operational Support, with weapons to be acquired under separate contracts. Sixteen Hellenic Air Force personnel, including six instructors, will undergo training in the United States, with the aircraft entering service from 2028 onwards. The U.S. State Department had already approved in January 2024 the possible sale of up to 40 F-35s and related equipment estimated at $8.6 billion, and production slots have been reserved at Lockheed Martin facilities. A U.S. contract worth $17.2 million, awarded in May 2025, funds engineering and technical support through 2028, aligning with Greek infrastructure upgrades such as new navigation and security systems at Andravida, which will host the F-35 fleet.
The composition of the Hellenic Air Force is central to these decisions. Greece operates 24 Rafale F3R fighters, delivered between 2022 and January 2025, under a program that began with an agreement for 18 aircraft in January 2021 and expanded with six additional aircraft in March 2022. The Rafale fleet, consisting of 18 single-seat EG and six dual-seat DG variants, was delivered rapidly, with the final aircraft accepted in December 2024. The first batch was valued at €2.5 billion and included weapons such as METEOR, MICA, SCALP, and AM39 Exocet, while the second batch cost €1.09 billion. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated in December 2024 that there was no plan for further Rafale orders, emphasizing that the combination of 24 Rafale and 20 F-35As meets immediate strategic needs. Alongside this fleet, Greece expects to field 83 F-16 Vipers by the end of the decade, while the Block 30 and Block 50 fleets remain under review for their future roles.
Transport aircraft modernization has also become a pressing requirement. The existing C-130H Hercules fleet, acquired from the United States, remains in service but is increasingly difficult to sustain despite improved availability. While Athens has discussed acquiring the newer C-130J variant, attention has shifted toward Embraer’s C-390 Millennium, a medium jet transport selected by multiple European Union states including Portugal, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Sweden. Discussions with Portugal are of particular significance because Lisbon operates the C-390 and offers a path for a bilateral agreement within the European framework. This would facilitate acquisition while aligning with broader EU procurement trends, and Greek planners view this as a potentially more sustainable and interoperable solution compared to further Hercules procurement.
These procurement considerations are part of a wider modernization agenda. Greece’s defense strategy has sought to replace obsolete aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom and older Mirage 2000 variants, while simultaneously upgrading F-16s and integrating fifth-generation platforms. The decision to prioritize F-35 acquisitions, possibly expanding beyond the initial 20 aircraft, reflects both operational and political calculations. In addition to reinforcing air defense and strike capabilities, the integration of the F-35 strengthens NATO interoperability and secures long-term operational relevance. By contrast, the F-16 Block 50 modernization program, even if cost-effective, would only extend service life rather than introduce transformative capabilities. Greece’s air power mix, which by the early 2030s could comprise Rafales, F-16 Vipers, and an expanded fleet of F-35s, is structured to ensure a fifth-generation force while preserving near-term readiness.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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As reported by Kathimerini on September 12, 2025, Greece is reassessing the modernization of its fighter fleet as the negotiations with the United States regarding the upgrade of 38 F-16 Block 50s remain unresolved after nearly five years. The main concern in Athens is that the modernization, if completed by 2031 or 2032, could deliver a variant that is already outdated by the time it enters service. This has prompted consideration of an alternative course, namely the acquisition of 8 to 12 additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft, beyond the 20 already under contract.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Greece’s first F-35As will be used for training in the US before joining the 117th Fighter Wing at Andravida in the early 2030s. (Picture source: F-35 Demo Team)
The first F-35A for Greece is scheduled to be ready in 2028, and deliveries will initially take place in the United States for training before aircraft are based at the 117th Fighter Wing in Andravida in the early 2030s. In contrast, the modernization of the F-16 Block 50s, even at reduced cost, would require further interventions before the end of the next decade. The F-16 Block 50 negotiations have lowered the estimated cost from an initial €1.9 billion to approximately €900 million. A condition set by Lockheed Martin was that the work be conducted at Hellenic Aerospace Industry facilities, a requirement Athens eventually accepted, despite an initial preference for upgrades at the 111th Combat Wing in Nea Anchialos. The modernization path remains technically feasible but carries timing and configuration risks, which are considered by Greek planners alongside the option of further F-35 orders. By contrast, the F-35A is expected to remain operational for fifty years, with higher interoperability, particularly when paired with the Rafale fleet and upgraded F-16 Vipers. This long-term operational relevance is one of the key arguments for expanding the F-35 program rather than investing further in intermediate modernization efforts.
The F-35A offers several advantages over the F-16 Block 70/72 (Viper) that may be considered advantageous by the Hellenic Air Force. The F-35A is designed with features for reduced radar cross-section, internal weapons bays, and shaping and materials that decrease its observability to radar, whereas the Block 70 lacks stealth to the same degree and must carry many weapons or fuel tanks externally, which increases drag and exposure. The F-35A carries substantially more internal fuel than the F-16 Block 70, enabling a greater combat radius without external tanks or frequent aerial refueling, and its aerodynamic and propulsion characteristics allow it to cruise with lower detectability. Its avionics suite includes sensor fusion, more advanced electronic warfare capabilities, low probability of intercept radar, and greater capacity for integrating future weapons and sensors under software upgrade paths (such as newer Block versions) than the current systems in the Block 70. The Block 70 does include AESA radar, modern cockpit displays, conformal fuel tanks, and upgraded electronic warfare systems, which improve over earlier F-16 variants, but these improvements do not address stealth or internal carriage trade-offs to the same extent. These differences influence mission profiles: for missions requiring penetration into contested airspace, long-range strike, or operations under air defense threat, the F-35A offers profile advantages that the Block 70 does not match.
Greece finalized its first F-35 procurement in July 2024 with the signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for 20 aircraft valued at €3.47 billion. This agreement includes two spare engines, four simulators, training for pilots and technicians, and four years of Full Operational Support, with weapons to be acquired under separate contracts. Sixteen Hellenic Air Force personnel, including six instructors, will undergo training in the United States, with the aircraft entering service from 2028 onwards. The U.S. State Department had already approved in January 2024 the possible sale of up to 40 F-35s and related equipment estimated at $8.6 billion, and production slots have been reserved at Lockheed Martin facilities. A U.S. contract worth $17.2 million, awarded in May 2025, funds engineering and technical support through 2028, aligning with Greek infrastructure upgrades such as new navigation and security systems at Andravida, which will host the F-35 fleet.
The composition of the Hellenic Air Force is central to these decisions. Greece operates 24 Rafale F3R fighters, delivered between 2022 and January 2025, under a program that began with an agreement for 18 aircraft in January 2021 and expanded with six additional aircraft in March 2022. The Rafale fleet, consisting of 18 single-seat EG and six dual-seat DG variants, was delivered rapidly, with the final aircraft accepted in December 2024. The first batch was valued at €2.5 billion and included weapons such as METEOR, MICA, SCALP, and AM39 Exocet, while the second batch cost €1.09 billion. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated in December 2024 that there was no plan for further Rafale orders, emphasizing that the combination of 24 Rafale and 20 F-35As meets immediate strategic needs. Alongside this fleet, Greece expects to field 83 F-16 Vipers by the end of the decade, while the Block 30 and Block 50 fleets remain under review for their future roles.
Transport aircraft modernization has also become a pressing requirement. The existing C-130H Hercules fleet, acquired from the United States, remains in service but is increasingly difficult to sustain despite improved availability. While Athens has discussed acquiring the newer C-130J variant, attention has shifted toward Embraer’s C-390 Millennium, a medium jet transport selected by multiple European Union states including Portugal, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Sweden. Discussions with Portugal are of particular significance because Lisbon operates the C-390 and offers a path for a bilateral agreement within the European framework. This would facilitate acquisition while aligning with broader EU procurement trends, and Greek planners view this as a potentially more sustainable and interoperable solution compared to further Hercules procurement.
These procurement considerations are part of a wider modernization agenda. Greece’s defense strategy has sought to replace obsolete aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom and older Mirage 2000 variants, while simultaneously upgrading F-16s and integrating fifth-generation platforms. The decision to prioritize F-35 acquisitions, possibly expanding beyond the initial 20 aircraft, reflects both operational and political calculations. In addition to reinforcing air defense and strike capabilities, the integration of the F-35 strengthens NATO interoperability and secures long-term operational relevance. By contrast, the F-16 Block 50 modernization program, even if cost-effective, would only extend service life rather than introduce transformative capabilities. Greece’s air power mix, which by the early 2030s could comprise Rafales, F-16 Vipers, and an expanded fleet of F-35s, is structured to ensure a fifth-generation force while preserving near-term readiness.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
