Greece to purchase 20 F-35 fighters

[F-22Raptor]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1542505840220942337

 

[nope]

f 35 really is killing it thanks Russia

 

[Skull and Bones]

Greece really has a formidable airforce.

 

[IceCold]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1542505840220942337

So Greece is getting them but Turkiye, a Nato member isn't! How will Turkiye respond remains to be seen. It will change the balance of power in Greece favour significantly.

 

[kingQamaR]

Turkey is the second biggest arms protector in the NATO after the US... and strategically located at the Black Sea and Mediterranean what a time to sell weapons to a country to be threaten against your frontline nato country what a farce

 

[Genghis khan1]

That’s like giving gestures of middle finger to Turkey by the US.

 

[Akritas]

For financial reasons, any inclusion of the F35 will begin with the end of the F16 Viper program, this mean 2028.
It has already been said that 6 planes will be ready whenever Greece wants them, they will get them on priority according to a recently passed law of Congress.
Certainly the combination of 20 F35, 24 Rafale, 125 F16V & 50 plus, 40 Mirage 2000-5, 8 new digital frigates and corvettes, all with the most powerful western missile systems, Israeli anti-drone system, give a formidable network-centric power to Greece.

 

[Get Ya Wig Split]

Greece formally requested to purchase up to 40 F-35 Lightning IIs​

Greece signed and sent to the U.S. a Letter of Request (LoR) for the supply and purchase of 20 F-35 fighter jets, plus 20 options.

As previously announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his recent trip to Washington, Greece will seek to equip itself with the American 5th generation stealth fighter.

As reported by CNN Greece, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos’ trip to the United States is scheduled for July 18, to initiate relevant talks with the U.S. side, for the purchase of the fighters.

This announcement comes just days after Ankara lifted the veto preventing Sweden and Finland from formally joining NATO.

F-35, to maintain balance in the Aegean Sea​

Greece has been looking to acquire F-35s for some time to counterbalance Turkey’s (Türkiye) military power in the Aegean Sea. Statements had even surfaced that the Greeks wanted to keep the Lightning II fighters that were originally to be delivered to the Turkish Air Force.

If the response to the LoR is positive, negotiations on availability, cost, and delivery schedule, between Washington and Athens, could last a year.

Once this stage is passed, the procedures to conclude the agreement will begin, including aspects such as industrial offset, training of pilots and technical personnel, infrastructure works to accommodate the new fighters, etc. If all goes well and there are no delays, Greek sources are confident that the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) could be receiving its first F-35s in 2028.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1542554767179792384

The acquisition of the F-35 is part of the efforts being made by the Greek State to modernize and strengthen its Air Force, such as the purchase of 24 Rafale fighters from France and the modernization of 83 F-16 block 52+ fighters to the Viper variant (modernization also sought by Turkey), which will bring them to the same level as the Block 70.

Greece formally requested to purchase up to 40 F-35 Lightning IIs

Greece signed and sent to the U.S. a Letter of Request (LoR) for the supply and purchase of 20 F-35 fighter jets, plus 20 options. As previously announced by

www.aviacionline.com

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Czech Republic Considering Buying F-35 To Replace Gripen​

According to local media the Czech Minister of Defense is considering the F-35 to replace the JAS 39 Gripen.​

Although nothing has been decided yet (at least officially), it looks like the F-35 is considered among the favorite candidates by the Czech Ministry of Defense for the replacement of the current fleet of JAS-39 C/D Gripen jets.

For a few years discussions have been underway within the Czech MOD to select a fighter that could replace the 14 Gripen fighters currently on lease from the Swedish manufacturer Saab until 2027 (with an option to extend the lease contract to 2029). All the three original options are still on the table: extending the lease and continue with the Gripens; procure the newer Gripen E/F variant; or choose a completely different type.

In case the decision to procure a completely new type of aircraft is made, the candidates would be the the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Lockheed Martin F-35 (as the F-16V offer was dropped by LM to focus on the Lightning II). The latter has often been considered oversized and too expensive for the needs, ambitions and posture of the Czech Republic. However, the situation has changed a lot and, the war underway in Ukraine as well as the significant change in the security situation in Eastern Europe, have allegedly pushed the 5th generation aircraft at the top of the shortlist: while it is the most expensive (not only to procure but also to operate) it is also the most modern aircraft in the world; it could perfectly integrate with current and future NATO weapons systems for the next decades and, if needed, carry nuclear weapons. Moreover, many other European countries, even some which had previously discarded the type, or smaller ones where the F-35 seemed to be too expensive, have opted for the Lightning II stealth aircraft, considering it cost-effective for their needs after extensive evaluations. And, if success in the Old Continent market wasn’t enough, the F-35 continues to win also in the rest of the world.

According to the information obtained by the Czech Echo24 media outlet, “The Air Force has already passed on to the ministry its idea of which aircraft should protect the Czech sky in the coming years. But the decision will be up to the ministry and the government. The Czech Republic will most likely not use the option to purchase previously leased aircraft. In 2027, it will be more than a quarter of a century old machines that will retire within the next decade.”

In such context, “the American F-35 is referred to as the hottest candidate. […] The price would probably be around 85 to 90 million dollars apiece.”

Minister Jana Černochová should come up with the intention of purchasing 24 new fighters during the summer, according to the local daily, even though an official decision could slip to 2023.

Significant interest in the F-35 by the Czech Republic has been confirmed by J.R. McDonald, the vice president of F-35 business development at Lockheed Martin, during a news conference on the opening day of the ILA Berlin Air Show last week, when he said : “Initially we offered both the F-16 Block 70/72 and F-35A, but after evaluating their needs, we have dropped the F-16. As far as we know, the Czech Air Force requirement is for between 18-24 [aircraft]. […] You’ll hear more about it soon”.

Let’s see what happens.

Czech Republic Eyes F-35 For Gripen Replacement - Reports

According to local media the Czech Minister of Defense is considering the F-35 to replace the JAS 39 Gripen. Although nothing has been decided yet (at

theaviationist.com

 

[firohot4321]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1542505840220942337

So Greece not even partner in original f35 program gets the ok
But turkye member from the start gets blocked

And Greece was never a bulwark state against russian while turkye was seen as such by NATO

 

[Ali_Baba]

So Greece not even partner in original f35 program gets the ok
But turkye member from the start gets blocked

And Greece was never a bulwark state against russian while turkye was seen as such by NATO

Turkiye decided to buy the S400 from Russia and that has restricted their options over the F35. It was a choice that Turkiye made.

F35 will disturb the balance significantly until the TFX can come online - it makes the success of TFX even more urgent for Turkey.

 

[Viet]

So Greece is getting them but Turkiye, a Nato member isn't! How will Turkiye respond remains to be seen. It will change the balance of power in Greece favour significantly.

Turkey exchanged S400 against F35. If there is a prize for the most dumbest move ever Erdogan wins. Should a war break out between NATO and Russia highly questionable Turkey will fight against Russia.

 

[YaqoobAlam]

Suppliers have found a new customer. Will get bulk orders for A2/AD assets.

 

[dBSPL]

Turkey exchanged S400 against F35. If there is a prize for the most dumbest move ever Erdogan wins. Should a war break out between NATO and Russia highly questionable Turkey will fight against Russia.

It's a godsend to be removed from the JSF program. The Turkish aviation industry got everything it needed from this project.

 

[MeFishToo]

It's a godsend to be removed from the JSF program. The Turkish aviation industry got everything it needed from this project.

Except planes..

 

[dBSPL]

Turkiye decided to buy the S400 from Russia and that has restricted their options over the F35. It was a choice that Turkiye made.

F35 will disturb the balance significantly until the TFX can come online - it makes the success of TFX even more urgent for Turkey.

Thanks to this, TAF had the opportunity to conduct tactical and operational training with the S-400 system and (Qatar's) Rafales. link

*

Until Greece declares operational capability for its first F-35 wing (2033-35?), the Turkish air force will take the necessary measures more than enough.

I also do not believe that Greece will use this short window of opportunity to embark on a great adventure. All of Greece's military and industrial targets are within the range of even Turkish artillery units.

Tactical and operational experience, on the other hand, is a completely separate topic of discussion. It would be naive to think that a few jet would create a military deterrent against Turkiye, while TAF was conducting a simultaneous operation with +70 jets on air in an extremely narrow airspaces.

Greece has no aerial refueling capability, its AEW-C capabilities are also limited, these jets have to return to their bases after their sorties, if they can find a base to return to...

The air-to-ground ammunition stocks are ridiculous and let me give you an example, only the number of power plants above certain level is higher than 8500, that is far more than entire arsenal of Greece air force. If Greece wants to enter a war, it must increase its ammunition stocks 4-5 times more than it is now, which is not possible for a country which dont have industry, so without an effort that will take years and billions of dollars.

If Greece, -as the aggressor side-, enters a long-running war against a few times strong and experienced army than its own, the results will be devastating. From our side, this deterrence gives the necessary time to nationalize Turkish military capabilities and make them a X factor.