Hellenic Air Force one step ahead

The American commitment to reinforce Greece with fifth-generation fighter jets, along with the sale of a number of more sophisticated F-16s, is indicative, at least for now, of Washington's wish to maintain a certain balance of air power in the Aegean.

If Greece's F-35 fighter jets purchase goes ahead, then in 2030 the Hellenic Air Force will have its first fifth-generation fighters, which will be fully interoperable with the 83 F-16 Vipers already being upgraded at the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAV) facility (eight have already been delivered).

The ability of the F-35s to work with the F-16 Vipers and the parallel presence of 24 Rafales will essentially create an operational control environment over the Aegean, which the Turkish Air Force will not be able to approach, even if the plan to buy 40 new F-16 Vipers and upgrade 79 existing ones to the type goes ahead.<...