Greece Receives Military Equipment Five from USA: Air Force Modernization with F-35 Fighters and Possible Acquisition of Black Hawk Helicopters
The Hellenic Republic has obtained, free of charge, a supply of military equipment from the USA. This includes two transport aircraft, C-130H, four corvettes, and sixty Bradley Fighting Vehicles (BFV).
This reinforcement of Greek military capacity occurs in a context where Greece has acquired forty F-35 fighters, intensifying its strategic presence in the air, land, and maritime domains. The additional support package comprises ten engines for airplanes P-3 Orion and various patrol vessels.
In a further strategic move, Greece will join the program Constellation of frigates, an initiative aimed at the construction of twenty ships for the United States Navy. Greek participation in this program symbolizes its entry into an exclusive segment of the naval career, reserved for a limited number of nations.
Accompanying these advances in weapons, the government of Athens will receive an allocation of 200 million dollars through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) of the US State Department.
The acquisition by Greece of a total of 40 fighters F-35 authorized by Washington constitutes a relevant milestone. Greek military experts consider that this increase in its air fleet could serve as a counterweight to the recurrent Turkish air raids, carried out by F-16 fighters in Greek airspace.
Greece prioritizes the modernization of its air force with F-35. The intention of Greece to replace its fleet of F-4 Phantom II and Mirage 2000 focuses now on the F-35. The Hellenic Air Force already has experience with high-performance aircraft, currently operating 18 fighters Dassault Rafale French-made and 154 F-16 of American origin.
The approval process for this transaction is in the hands of the United States Congress. This body has a period of fifteen days to deliberate on the sale. After this period without objections, the transaction will be considered approved. The supervision and analysis of this arms agreement falls to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. These entities have the authority to examine and, if they deem it necessary, challenge arms sales internationally.
Athens shows no signs of stopping its military expansion and seeks to capitalize on the favorable disposition of Washington towards their defensive needs. Internal sources of Greece reveal plans to boost their air defense capabilities through the acquisition of up to 35 helicopters Black Hawk, marking a significant advance in Greek military capacity. Talks between US and Greek authorities are reported to be advanced, with the estimated value of this acquisition rising to around €1.1 billion.
Currently, the air arsenal of Greece does not have helicopters Black Hawk. The Greek air forces operate mainly with utility helicopters such as Bell 205 and Bell 212 besides Eurocopter AS332 for combat search and rescue missions, and air ambulances AgustaWestland AW109.
The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk powered by two turboshaft engines General Electric T700 is a formidable asset in any air fleet. It achieves a cruising speed of 149 knots and a maximum speed of 183 knots, with an operating ceiling of 19,000 feet. With an operational range of approximately 592 kilometers, which can be extended up to 2,220 kilometers with external fuel tanks, the Black Hawk is ideal for long-distance transport and rescue missions. Additionally, depending on the mission and specific variant, it can carry a diverse range of armaments, including 7.62 mm machine guns, 30 mm chain guns, and anti-tank guided missiles.