Greece to Provide Ukraine with Decommissioned F-16s: Al-Jazeera Report

According to a report by Al-Jazeera on July 16, 2024, Ukraine may soon receive a significant boost in its air power through the acquisition of F-16 fighter jets from Greece. The report indicates that Greece plans to decommission 32 of its older F-16 Block-30 jets and sell them to the U.S. These aircraft could then be upgraded and transferred to Ukraine.

This potential transfer would bolster the F-16 fleet already promised to Kyiv by NATO allies, with the first jets expected to arrive in the near future. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been a vocal advocate for advanced fighter jets to strengthen Ukraine’s defence against ongoing Russian aggression, now entering its third year.

Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that NATO allies had begun transferring U.S.-manufactured jets to Ukraine. The jets are anticipated to be operational this summer and enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

In a broader context, Greece is upgrading its own air force by modernizing 82 F-16s to Block-70 and acquiring 24 Dassault Rafale fighters from France, leading to the decommissioning of older models.