Athens, Greece – In a significant boost to its military capabilities, Greece has formally approved a deal to acquire 20 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets from the United States. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced the acquisition, emphasizing the aircraft’s pivotal role in enhancing Greece’s defence posture and deterring potential threats in the region.
“We are excited to welcome Greece into the F-35 enterprise,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, director and program executive officer of F-35 Joint Program Office. “The F-35 will provide exceptional capability to the Hellenic Air Force, build interoperability between our allies and strengthen the combat effectiveness for all of NATO.”
“For several decades, the Hellenic Air Force has been our partner, and it is our honour to continue that relationship as Greece becomes the 19th nation to join the F-35 program,” said Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of the F-35 program.
“The F-35 is the only fighter suitable to strengthen Greece’s sovereignty and operational capability with allies.”
The $3.47 billion contract marks a substantial investment in the Hellenic Air Force’s modernization, signalling Athens’ commitment to maintaining a robust military presence. The F-35’s advanced stealth technology, coupled with its formidable air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities, is expected to provide Greece with a decisive edge in the evolving regional security landscape.
Further strengthening our international partnership and bolstering Greece and NATO’s defence capabilities, the Hellenic Armed Forces also operate F-16s, C-130s and Hawk helicopters. It is currently upgrading a portion of its F-16 fleet to the advanced “Viper” configuration while its Hercules fleet supports critical airlift mission requirements. Greece recently signed an LOA to acquire 35 UH-60M Black Hawks in addition to its existing S-70B fleet and newly acquired MH-60R maritime helicopters.