Why Does Greece Have a Big Fleet of Fighter Jets?

With a fleet of approximately 227 fighter jets, the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is one of the largest in NATO, surpassing the UK’s Royal Air Force and France’s Armée de l’Air in size. The current HAF inventory includes 152 F-16s, 33 F-4E Phantoms, 24 Dassault Mirage 2000-5 Mk2s, and 18 Dassault Rafales.

What You Need to Know: With a fleet of approximately 227 fighter jets, the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is one of the largest in NATO, surpassing the UK’s Royal Air Force and France’s Armée de l’Air in size. The current HAF inventory includes 152 F-16s, 33 F-4E Phantoms, 24 Dassault Mirage 2000-5 Mk2s, and 18 Dassault Rafales.

By 2030, the HAF aims to operate 200 combat-ready jets, including newly upgraded F-16 Vipers, Rafales, and 20 incoming F-35A Lightning IIs. This sizable force is necessary due to ongoing tensions with Turkey and the strategic need to secure the eastern Mediterranean.

Greece continues to modernize its fleet, ensuring advanced air capabilities for years to come.
So, what aircraft does the Hellenic Air Force fly? What aircraft will it fly in the future? And why does it have to have so many fighter jets to begin with?

Today, the Hellenic Air Force has approximately 227 fighter jets in its inventory. Specifically, Athens has 152 F-16 Fighting Falcon (Block 72, Block 52+/ADV, Block 50, Block 30), 33 F-4E Phantom, 24 Dassault Mirage 2000-5 Mk2, and 18 Dassault Rafale F3R aircraft.

Starting with the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Hellenic Air Force is currently modernizing its fleet. Athens is working with Lockheed Martin to upgrade scores of F-16s to the Block 70/72 “Viper” configuration, the most advanced version of the venerable fighter jet out there. In total, 84 F-16 fighter jets will be upgraded to the Block 70/72 “Viper” configuration by 2027. Moreover, the Hellenic Air Force is also upgrading 38 Block 50 aircraft to Block 52+/ADV from the spare parts of the Block 52+/ADV aircraft getting upgraded to “Vipers.”

Moving on to the Dassault Rafale, the Hellenic Air Force has 18 aircraft in its inventory. The Rafale, alongside the F-16 Block 70/72 “Vipers,” is the most advanced fighter jet in Greece’s fleet.

The Hellenic Air Force expects to get one Rafale F3R each month until January. These are brand new aircraft and will create a squadron of 24 fighter jets. However, Athens plans on buying more Rafales in the future to have two battle-ready squadrons. To achieve this, the Hellenic Air Force is in discussions with its French counterpart and Dassault for the transfer of the 24 Dassault Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 and the purchase of an additional 12 new Rafales. Athens’ Mirage 2000-5 fleet was ill-maintained during the austerity of the 2008 economic crisis.

Although the aircraft are capable interceptors, their availability isn’t the best, and the Hellenic Air Force is looking for ways to offload them for the most benefit. The end goal would be two Rafale squadrons of 18 aircraft each.

F-4E Phantom

Finally, the F-4E Phantom is serving in a surveillance and tactical bombing role, but they will be moving off the active fleet soon as the Hellenic Air Force introduces the next type of aircraft.

Looking into the future, Greece recently signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for the delivery of 20 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets; Athens has the option to purchase an additional 20 aircraft in the future.

By 2030, the Hellenic Air Force wants to have approximately 200 combat-ready fighter jets divided among three types of aircraft: F-35A Lightning II, F-16 Block 70/72 “Viper,” and Dassault Rafale F3R.

As to why the Hellenic Air Force needs so many combat aircraft, the answer is simple: Turkey and the threat it poses to Greece and the wider security of the eastern Mediterranean.