Lockheed Martin Delivers 30th Upgraded F-16 Viper to Hellenic Air Force

Lockheed Martin has announced the delivery of the 30th upgraded F-16 Viper to the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) as part of Greece’s ongoing efforts to enhance its air combat capabilities.

The delivery is a key milestone in a $997 million modernization program aimed at upgrading 84 F-16s from the Block 52, Block 52+, and Block 52 Advanced series to the advanced Viper configuration.

Greece is the only European country to adopt the F-16 Viper upgrade, which features cutting-edge avionics, radar, and weapons systems designed to enhance combat performance and interoperability with allied forces. The upgrades include the APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, a Modular Mission Computer, advanced communications, navigation, and identification systems, and Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) capabilities.

The majority of the upgrade work is being conducted domestically at the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) facilities, bolstering Greece’s local defense industry. The first two upgraded aircraft were delivered in September 2022, with Lockheed Martin maintaining an aggressive delivery schedule to modernize Greece’s fleet.

The F-16 Viper modernization complements Greece’s recent acquisition of advanced aircraft, including 24 Dassault Rafale F3R jets and 20 F-35A Lightning II fighters, significantly strengthening the HAF’s operational capabilities. Speculation persists about Greece potentially expanding the modernization program to include 38 older Block 50 F-16s delivered in the late 1990s.

This upgrade program underscores Greece’s commitment to maintaining a cutting-edge air force and strengthening its defense posture amid regional security challenges.