The news that came from the other side of the Atlantic that the US is putting a final “tombstone” on Turkish dreams to return to the program of the “invisible” F-35 fighter was another slap in the face to arrogant neighbors.
With the chairman of the Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatives clarifying that “Turkey is not returning to the F-35 program” from which it was expelled after the acquisition of the Russian S-400. And this at a time when it is now a matter of days the mission from the Ministry of National Defense of LOR to the USA, which essentially puts our Air Force in an F-35 era with the acquisition of at least one Squadron of 5th generation fighters. With very serious chances now if the process develops quickly, the first “blue” F-35s will land at a Greek airport even within 2027.
Until then, however, the quality difference between HAF fighters and TuAF aircraft will already be significant. After the upgrade of the 83 F-16 block 52+ and block 52+ adv to Viper has already been completed. The first test flight last week of the two single-seater fighter jets, which have already completed work on the ODA, brought smiles to the Air Force. It has been waiting for the first fighters in Souda since September so that the intensive training of the Greek pilots on the “Vipers” can begin.
The training of the “hawks” with the first six French Rafale has been as intensive for more than four months. They are already approaching the 400 exits, they are gradually participating in more and more complex scenarios while they are also testing the powerful missile “Meteor”, the biggest nightmare perhaps at the moment for the Turkish Air Force.
At the same time, it seems that the important program for the upgrade of the 38 F-16 block 50 fighters, which Nikos Panagiotopoulos will bring to the competent committee of the parliament in the coming days, is “on the rails”.
