Greece’s F-16 Viper fleet to reach 121 jets with the upgrade of 38 more F-16 Block 50 fighters
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Greece has approved a program to upgrade 38 F-16 Block 50 fighters to the Viper configuration, aligning them with the modernization already underway for 83 Block 52+ aircraft.
As reported by OnAlert on December 1, 2025, Greece has authorized the upgrade of 38 F-16C/D Block 50 aircraft to the latest F-16 Viper configuration, following an Air Staff recommendation and cost adjustments that brought the program within national planning limits. The package, aligned with the 83 F-16 Block 52+ jets already in the upgrade process, is scheduled for review by the parliamentary defense committee in early 2026 before the Letter of Request is sent to the United States.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Greece is shaping a future Air Force built around 121 Vipers, 24 Rafale F3R, and more than 20 F-35A fighters, with Mirage 2000-5s and F-16 Block 30s used in transitional roles. (Picture source: Hellenic Air Force)
Greece has approved the upgrade of 38 F-16C/D Block 50 fighter jets to the Viper configuration, marking a major step toward establishing a unified fleet of 121 F-16 Vipers and completing one of the most significant Hellenic Air Force programs of the decade. The decision follows the recommendation of the Air Staff and aligns with the ongoing modernization of 83 F-16 Block 52+ aircraft already being upgraded to the same standard by Lockheed Martin and Hellenic Aerospace Industry. The upgrade program will be reviewed by the competent parliamentary committee in early 2026 before formal procedures with the United States are finalized, so that the new work can be added directly to the existing Viper production flow. The process now moves toward the preparation and transmission of the Letter of Request, which compiles all requirements for the 38 F-16 Block 50 fighter jets and defines technical specifications, weapons, spare parts, follow-on support, and provisions for future improvements so that the Letter of Offer and Acceptance can subsequently confirm cost, schedules, and material packages.
Initial U.S. cost estimates had exceeded €1.8 billion for the upgrade, a level considered unsuitable for Greece’s long-term planning, while later proposals of around €1.5 billion covered only 30 of the 38 F-16s. The Greek side sought to avoid a fragmented plan and insisted that all 38 jets be upgraded, which led to further negotiation rounds supported by the favorable euro-to-dollar exchange rate and the potential resale of usable components, removed from Block 52+ kits. These adjustments brought the projected cost closer to €1.2 billion, and additional optimization allowed the estimate to fall toward approximately €1 billion, considered compatible with Greece’s multiyear equipment priorities. This cost framing enables the inclusion of the full F-16 Block 50 fleet while preserving the objective of a unified F-16 Viper inventory. The target is to merge the program into the existing Block 52+ Viper workflow already underway at Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI)’s facilities in Tanagra.
Lockheed Martin has already delivered the 30th upgraded F-16 Viper to Greece under the $997 million modernization effort covering the Block 52+/52M inventory, as part of a future Greek fleet numbering nearly 200 modern fighters. The Viper upgrade transforms the aging F-16 Block 50 (the first F-16 of this block rolled out on October 31, 1991) into a 4.5 generation fighter equipped with the AN/APG-83 SABR active electronically scanned array radar which offers longer detection range, multi-target tracking, increased resilience in dense electromagnetic environments and high resolution mapping for strike missions at sea and on land, replacing radar and connectivity limitations accumulated since the mid-1990s.
The MMC-7000A mission computer integrates sensors, weapons, self-protection equipment, and communication systems, while Link 16 permits full tactical data exchange with aircraft, naval units, ground forces, and airborne radars. The JHMCS helmet provides pilot cueing for rapid target designation during close combat or sudden engagements. Updated avionics, identification systems, and encrypted communications allow future weapons and sensors to be integrated without major structural changes. This upgrade will improve the operational roles of Greek squadrons using the Block 50, including 341 “Velos” and 347 “Perseus” at the 111th Combat Wing in Nea Anchialos. These units have historically operated with older radars, limited connectivity, and previous-generation avionics, which constrained their effectiveness relative to other Greek fighters.
The Viper program will eliminate these gaps and position the squadrons within Greece’s future air force, combining F-16 Vipers, Rafale F3R, F-35A fighters, Mirage 2000-5, and F-16 Block 30 in transitional roles. The weapons package sought for the upgraded Block 50 fleet includes AIM-120D for long-range interception, JDAM and JSOW for day and night precision strike, and Harpoon for maritime engagements, together with JASSM or JAASM for strategic strikes at long distances, while IRIS-T and other short-range air-to-air missiles will provide close combat options. The Air Force has explicitly linked the AIM-120D requirement to the need for equivalent performance across both the Viper fleet and the future F-35A fleet, so that Vipers retain competitive reach alongside more advanced aircraft. These mission sets are central to Greece’s operational needs across the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, where rapid detection, engagement coordination, and network-centric targeting are expected to define future scenarios. The upgrade, therefore, will ensure that the Greek Block 50 fleet remains relevant through the next decade without major additional modifications.
The schedule foresees that upgrade activity for the Block 50s will begin around 2028 once the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) is issued, with progress depending on HAI capacity, Lockheed Martin planning, and the need to maintain sufficient operational readiness throughout the fleet: the Vipers will re-enter service in batches upon completion to reduce downtime. HAI will carry out the upgrades, using experience acquired through its participation in Viper modernization of the Block 52+/52M fleet and earlier Peace Xenia programs. This domestic role provides operational advantages by limiting dependence on foreign maintenance pathways, ensuring faster service, and enabling the long-term management of critical subsystems. Economically, this work reinvests a significant share of the program into the Greek economy, maintains and expands technical skills, and supports workforce development. These capabilities may extend to future defense programs and export opportunities. HAI’s role has already been demonstrated with the delivery of the 20th upgraded Viper in July 2024 and the 42nd aircraft in September 2025, marking the halfway point of the Block 52+/52M upgrade cycle and establishing a production rhythm that will also support the Block 50 upgrade.
The Block 50 aircraft originates from a lineage that entered service in the early 1990s as part of the Block 50/52 series, characterized by the use of the F110-GE-129 engine for Block 50 and the F100-PW-229 for Block 52, with both engines rated around 29,000 pounds of thrust, and intended to address evolving mission sets, including suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). More than 800 F-16 Block 50/52s have been produced for the United States, Türkiye, Greece, Chile, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, and Israel, contributing to a global F-16 fleet exceeding 4,700 orders across about 30 customers. Earlier F-16C/D cost references place figures around $18.8 million in 1998 terms, while Block 50/52 flyaway estimates are often around $34 million, depending on configuration and equipment. Block 50 aircraft delivered to Greece were acquired under the Peace Xenia II program, with deliveries beginning in the late 1990s and forming part of a broader national inventory that also includes Block 30, Block 52, and Block 52+ aircraft. These upgrades are also adopted by users such as Poland, which has concluded a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to modernize its 48 Block 52+ aircraft to the Viper level, while the U.S. Air Force is incorporating systems such as the Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite that uses ultra-wideband architectures, high-speed radar warning receivers, and agile jamming integrated with the APG-83 radar.
The Greek decision to upgrade the 38 Block 50 aircraft contributes directly to the regional airpower balance, since Türkiye maintains a larger F-16 fleet numerically, but faces restrictions related to advanced Western weapons, its exclusion from the F-35 program, and uncertainty regarding the integration of AESA radars across its inventory. Greece, by contrast, is shaping a force built around 121 Vipers, 24 Rafale F3R, and more than 20 F-35A fighters with Mirage 2000-5s and F-16 Block 30s used in transitional roles. Operational planning in a possible scenario assigns F-35As to early detection and classification tasks using their low observability and sensors to provide data over networks, Rafales to initial and deep strike missions with weapons such as SCALP and Meteor, and upgraded Vipers to interception, suppression of air defenses, and precision strike roles. The modernization of the Block 50 fleet is therefore presented as a necessary component for maintaining air superiority and deterrence capability rather than as an optional enhancement. It ensures that the two squadrons operating the Block 50 at the 111th Combat Wing remain aligned with the capabilities of the rest of the Greek fighter force and that their performance keeps pace with evolving threats in the Aegean and surrounding regions.
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, Ukraine, 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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Greece has approved a program to upgrade 38 F-16 Block 50 fighters to the Viper configuration, aligning them with the modernization already underway for 83 Block 52+ aircraft.
As reported by OnAlert on December 1, 2025, Greece has authorized the upgrade of 38 F-16C/D Block 50 aircraft to the latest F-16 Viper configuration, following an Air Staff recommendation and cost adjustments that brought the program within national planning limits. The package, aligned with the 83 F-16 Block 52+ jets already in the upgrade process, is scheduled for review by the parliamentary defense committee in early 2026 before the Letter of Request is sent to the United States.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Greece is shaping a future Air Force built around 121 Vipers, 24 Rafale F3R, and more than 20 F-35A fighters, with Mirage 2000-5s and F-16 Block 30s used in transitional roles. (Picture source: Hellenic Air Force)
Greece has approved the upgrade of 38 F-16C/D Block 50 fighter jets to the Viper configuration, marking a major step toward establishing a unified fleet of 121 F-16 Vipers and completing one of the most significant Hellenic Air Force programs of the decade. The decision follows the recommendation of the Air Staff and aligns with the ongoing modernization of 83 F-16 Block 52+ aircraft already being upgraded to the same standard by Lockheed Martin and Hellenic Aerospace Industry. The upgrade program will be reviewed by the competent parliamentary committee in early 2026 before formal procedures with the United States are finalized, so that the new work can be added directly to the existing Viper production flow. The process now moves toward the preparation and transmission of the Letter of Request, which compiles all requirements for the 38 F-16 Block 50 fighter jets and defines technical specifications, weapons, spare parts, follow-on support, and provisions for future improvements so that the Letter of Offer and Acceptance can subsequently confirm cost, schedules, and material packages.
Initial U.S. cost estimates had exceeded €1.8 billion for the upgrade, a level considered unsuitable for Greece’s long-term planning, while later proposals of around €1.5 billion covered only 30 of the 38 F-16s. The Greek side sought to avoid a fragmented plan and insisted that all 38 jets be upgraded, which led to further negotiation rounds supported by the favorable euro-to-dollar exchange rate and the potential resale of usable components, removed from Block 52+ kits. These adjustments brought the projected cost closer to €1.2 billion, and additional optimization allowed the estimate to fall toward approximately €1 billion, considered compatible with Greece’s multiyear equipment priorities. This cost framing enables the inclusion of the full F-16 Block 50 fleet while preserving the objective of a unified F-16 Viper inventory. The target is to merge the program into the existing Block 52+ Viper workflow already underway at Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI)’s facilities in Tanagra.
Lockheed Martin has already delivered the 30th upgraded F-16 Viper to Greece under the $997 million modernization effort covering the Block 52+/52M inventory, as part of a future Greek fleet numbering nearly 200 modern fighters. The Viper upgrade transforms the aging F-16 Block 50 (the first F-16 of this block rolled out on October 31, 1991) into a 4.5 generation fighter equipped with the AN/APG-83 SABR active electronically scanned array radar which offers longer detection range, multi-target tracking, increased resilience in dense electromagnetic environments and high resolution mapping for strike missions at sea and on land, replacing radar and connectivity limitations accumulated since the mid-1990s.
The MMC-7000A mission computer integrates sensors, weapons, self-protection equipment, and communication systems, while Link 16 permits full tactical data exchange with aircraft, naval units, ground forces, and airborne radars. The JHMCS helmet provides pilot cueing for rapid target designation during close combat or sudden engagements. Updated avionics, identification systems, and encrypted communications allow future weapons and sensors to be integrated without major structural changes. This upgrade will improve the operational roles of Greek squadrons using the Block 50, including 341 “Velos” and 347 “Perseus” at the 111th Combat Wing in Nea Anchialos. These units have historically operated with older radars, limited connectivity, and previous-generation avionics, which constrained their effectiveness relative to other Greek fighters.
The Viper program will eliminate these gaps and position the squadrons within Greece’s future air force, combining F-16 Vipers, Rafale F3R, F-35A fighters, Mirage 2000-5, and F-16 Block 30 in transitional roles. The weapons package sought for the upgraded Block 50 fleet includes AIM-120D for long-range interception, JDAM and JSOW for day and night precision strike, and Harpoon for maritime engagements, together with JASSM or JAASM for strategic strikes at long distances, while IRIS-T and other short-range air-to-air missiles will provide close combat options. The Air Force has explicitly linked the AIM-120D requirement to the need for equivalent performance across both the Viper fleet and the future F-35A fleet, so that Vipers retain competitive reach alongside more advanced aircraft. These mission sets are central to Greece’s operational needs across the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, where rapid detection, engagement coordination, and network-centric targeting are expected to define future scenarios. The upgrade, therefore, will ensure that the Greek Block 50 fleet remains relevant through the next decade without major additional modifications.
The schedule foresees that upgrade activity for the Block 50s will begin around 2028 once the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) is issued, with progress depending on HAI capacity, Lockheed Martin planning, and the need to maintain sufficient operational readiness throughout the fleet: the Vipers will re-enter service in batches upon completion to reduce downtime. HAI will carry out the upgrades, using experience acquired through its participation in Viper modernization of the Block 52+/52M fleet and earlier Peace Xenia programs. This domestic role provides operational advantages by limiting dependence on foreign maintenance pathways, ensuring faster service, and enabling the long-term management of critical subsystems. Economically, this work reinvests a significant share of the program into the Greek economy, maintains and expands technical skills, and supports workforce development. These capabilities may extend to future defense programs and export opportunities. HAI’s role has already been demonstrated with the delivery of the 20th upgraded Viper in July 2024 and the 42nd aircraft in September 2025, marking the halfway point of the Block 52+/52M upgrade cycle and establishing a production rhythm that will also support the Block 50 upgrade.
The Block 50 aircraft originates from a lineage that entered service in the early 1990s as part of the Block 50/52 series, characterized by the use of the F110-GE-129 engine for Block 50 and the F100-PW-229 for Block 52, with both engines rated around 29,000 pounds of thrust, and intended to address evolving mission sets, including suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). More than 800 F-16 Block 50/52s have been produced for the United States, Türkiye, Greece, Chile, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, and Israel, contributing to a global F-16 fleet exceeding 4,700 orders across about 30 customers. Earlier F-16C/D cost references place figures around $18.8 million in 1998 terms, while Block 50/52 flyaway estimates are often around $34 million, depending on configuration and equipment. Block 50 aircraft delivered to Greece were acquired under the Peace Xenia II program, with deliveries beginning in the late 1990s and forming part of a broader national inventory that also includes Block 30, Block 52, and Block 52+ aircraft. These upgrades are also adopted by users such as Poland, which has concluded a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to modernize its 48 Block 52+ aircraft to the Viper level, while the U.S. Air Force is incorporating systems such as the Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite that uses ultra-wideband architectures, high-speed radar warning receivers, and agile jamming integrated with the APG-83 radar.
The Greek decision to upgrade the 38 Block 50 aircraft contributes directly to the regional airpower balance, since Türkiye maintains a larger F-16 fleet numerically, but faces restrictions related to advanced Western weapons, its exclusion from the F-35 program, and uncertainty regarding the integration of AESA radars across its inventory. Greece, by contrast, is shaping a force built around 121 Vipers, 24 Rafale F3R, and more than 20 F-35A fighters with Mirage 2000-5s and F-16 Block 30s used in transitional roles. Operational planning in a possible scenario assigns F-35As to early detection and classification tasks using their low observability and sensors to provide data over networks, Rafales to initial and deep strike missions with weapons such as SCALP and Meteor, and upgraded Vipers to interception, suppression of air defenses, and precision strike roles. The modernization of the Block 50 fleet is therefore presented as a necessary component for maintaining air superiority and deterrence capability rather than as an optional enhancement. It ensures that the two squadrons operating the Block 50 at the 111th Combat Wing remain aligned with the capabilities of the rest of the Greek fighter force and that their performance keeps pace with evolving threats in the Aegean and surrounding regions.
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, Ukraine, 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.
