Developments in the next period are forecast rapid.
A marathon begins after the announcement made by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Washington for the entry of Greece in the program of the Stealth fighter F-35 with the acquisition by our Air Force of a Squadron of 5th generation aircraft. It was essentially the confirmation of the revelation made a week ago by Newpost that the government has decided to include the blue wings of the closed F-35 club by launching the operational capabilities of the HAF and turning the Greek hawks into the absolute ruler in the Eastern Mediterranean against of the Turkish Air Force.
The final decision was made just a few days before the visit of Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the USA after the “green” light that was lit by the first “hawk” of our Air Force, Lieutenant Colonel Themistoklis Bourolias and the air staff as a whole. The escalation of Turkish provocation, the questioning of Greek sovereignty in the Eastern Aegean islands, the barrage of overflights and the constant threats of the neighbors were the trigger for the to make the decision on the big deal. And while Turkey is putting unbearable pressure on Washington to sell 40 new F-16 block 70 fighters while simultaneously upgrading another 80 F-16 C / D aircraft.
Developments in the near future are predicted rapidly after Joe Biden and Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided not just Greece to enter the program of the 5th generation fighter but to speed up the process with the aim of delivering the first fighter no later than 2028 with simultaneous US support in repayment. favorable terms as provided by the MDCA signed last week. Until then, the investment agreement between Lockheed Martin and the Hellenic Aviation Industry for the participation of ODA in the program has progressed.
The acceptance of LOA by Athens will mean the conclusion of the relevant agreement where officially Greece will enter the program and the countdown for the delivery of the first fighters will begin. At the same time, the procedures for the training of the Air Force personnel as well as for the necessary infrastructure projects at the air base, which will host the first HAF F-35 Squadron, will begin to “run”.
According to sources handling the issue of Greek F-35s, the delivery of the first fighters within 2028 is considered possible if the process proceeds immediately with completion in three years for at least 20 Stealth aircraft. With the relevant program not connected with both the upgrade of the 83 F-16 in Viper configuration and that of the 38 F-16 block 50.
