Greek crisis to hurt Hellenic Air Force

[Babur Han]

Greek crisis to hurt Hellenic Air Force

HAF

Greece’s most devestating financial crisis in modern times and the growing possibility of a default on its loans have not only progressed its rating from Germany-level credit to average, on to junk, below junk and now to likely default, but also have begun to dramatically limit and even reduce its military capabilities. The damage is especially stark among the ranks of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF).

Here’s a brief list of probable changes to HAF:

- Vintage A-7E and TA-7C s are all to be retired before 2013 due to high maintenance costs.
- Two squadrons of F-4E AUPs will be merged into one squadron.
- RF-4E recon aircraft are to be withdrawn in late 2012 while 6 will be kept for use with the 3 Thales ASTAC SIGINT pods. Recon ops to be transferred to the F-16 Block 52+’s with the 2 Goodrich DB-110 pods.
- Mirage 2000s face possible operational cuts due to small size of fleet.
- T-2 Buckeyes are very likely to be withdrawn in 2 yrs due to lack of spare parts.
- Many T-6A Texan IIs have been placed in long-term storage due to shortages in operational budgets.
- NH-90 helicopter acquisition delayed due to major design flaws along with higher costs of operation relative to the Blackhawk. Acquisition will probably not be finished before 2015.
- EMB145H AWACS assets face possibility of reduction of the fleet from 4 to 2 aircraft.

HAF airbases planned for downsizing and/or outright closure include:

- In Larisa AFB on Crete, the F-16 Block 52s will go to Araxos following the retirement of A-7s.
- Aircraft storage and maintenance facilities in Agrinion face budgetary cuts.
- Similar cuts hame things difficult in Santorini (QRA detachment)
- Tympaki (location of S-300 air defence missiles) is burdened by lower budgets.
- CL-415 water bombers in Thessaloniki will go to Elefsis.

Greek crisis to hurt Hellenic Air Force | TR Defence

 

[BronzePlaque]

I wonder if Greece has a plan to counter Turkeys` F-35 procurement? Despite their economic situation, imho they have to counter that otherwise the balance of power will be enormously in favor of Turkey

 

[silko]

I wonder if Greece has a plan to counter Turkeys` F-35 procurement? Despite their economic situation, imho they have to counter that otherwise the balance of power will be enormously in favor of Turkey

as a Greek member said, nothing to counter the F-35

i kinda feel sad, Hellenic air force is going to retire aircrafts and such.

i dont care that much about their SAM and S-300's since they mainly is there against Turkey. but airforce can be used in NATO operations and that is what it will hurt!

 

[Free Soul]

Its a bit off topic but felt the need to say following, when procurement of F-35 is mentioned in the thread.

I will keep my fingers crossed that Turkey doesn’t go with procurement of F-35, many in US have argued against that aircraft, and voices were raised against the over hyped capabilities of F-35, that too coming from people how have designed great combat aircrafts like F-16 and A-10 Thunderbolt.
In short it is a very very expensive aircraft not that great value for money, and too many roles have been crammed into one fighter jet, the tradeoffs are such that it is a lesser of an aircraft in any role.
Sorry I haven’t checked if there is a thread here on the forum discussing JSF F-35, i will post some of my finding in there.

On topic - of course Greek defence will be greatly effected by the economic crisis, but their existing fleet packs quite a punch.
I have a lot of respect for both nations Turks and Greeks. Greeks unfortunately in economic turmoil and Turkey has gained a lot of attention in political arena worldwide, both can ill afford conflict.

 

[avrasya]

once cyprus issuie is solved turkey is no threat to greece. Hence they dont need that much fighther jets. Smart move by greeks.

 

[amalakas]

once cyprus issuie is solved turkey is no threat to greece. Hence they dont need that much fighther jets. Smart move by greeks.

Not so smart. Greek air force is amongst the highest ranking in Nato and the world in general when it comes to capability and pilot skill training.
When you downsize like that you lose a lot more than a few planes.

Not to mention that the planes we paid for and hence we should have gotten their full life's worth out of them, not put them in storage because of funding issues.

The germans (who rule Greece now) tell us that in a couple of years the budget would be in the surplus. Hence no more need for loans and hence perhaps the cuts will evaporate.

personally I think the germans haven't got a clue of what is going on..

 

[Deno]

Not so smart. Greek air force is amongst the highest ranking in Nato and the world in general when it comes to capability and pilot skill training.
When you downsize like that you lose a lot more than a few planes.

Not to mention that the planes we paid for and hence we should have gotten their full life's worth out of them, not put them in storage because of funding issues.

The germans (who rule Greece now) tell us that in a couple of years the budget would be in the surplus. Hence no more need for loans and hence perhaps the cuts will evaporate.

personally I think the germans haven't got a clue of what is going on..

Man.... As long as there is no death, our mock dogfights in Aegean was fun and somewhat of an icon ... I wishGreece can shake of this issue but I am not that optimistic about this...

 

[DarkPrince]

Hell-enic air force

 

[amalakas]

Man.... As long as there is no death, our mock dogfights in Aegean was fun and somewhat of an icon ... I wishGreece can shake of this issue but I am not that optimistic about this...

me neither

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

I wonder if Greece has a plan to counter Turkeys` F-35 procurement? Despite their economic situation, imho they have to counter that otherwise the balance of power will be enormously in favor of Turkey

Come on man... You think the EU & NATO will let you have a free for all against the Greeks? Wasnt it a few months ago that they wouldnt even be able to last a few days or something?

Diplomacy will take down any Turkish militaristic plans. Besides even the Turkish leadership said they wish for war. And here you are...

Not so smart. Greek air force is amongst the highest ranking in Nato and the world in general when it comes to capability and pilot skill training.
When you downsize like that you lose a lot more than a few planes.

A downgrade in the number of Squadrons that are flying doesnt really lower your pilot capabilities or your defenses; The pilots just will have to share the planes during training.

Given that the planes are in storage and able to be pressed into service.

 

[Deno]

me neither

I read a article about Greece financial crisis few minutes ago. It said that, %85.6 of the credetors accepted to delete the Greek debt Hope its true. I know that it would be optimistic to think there would be no string attached but its good news nevertheless.

Zito!!! I heard it from my Greek friend here, she would use it as ''Viva'' hope I didn't wrote it wrong

 

[Ottoman-Turk]

why are you guys getting happy? if greece gets stronger isit going to benefit turkey there are way too much greek rascists

 

[amalakas]

I read a article about Greece financial crisis few minutes ago. It said that, %85.6 of the credetors accepted to delete the Greek debt Hope its true. I know that it would be optimistic to think there would be no string attached but its good news nevertheless.

Zito!!! I heard it from my Greek friend here, she would use it as ''Viva'' hope I didn't wrote it wrong

No you didn't and we all hope it is good for all of us.

why are you guys getting happy? if greece gets stronger isit going to benefit turkey there are way too much greek rascists

You seem to have a problem. Greeks are not racist. Issues with the Turkish foreign policy doesn't mean much to how good relations have been for a number of years now.

If you look past the 6 or 12 miles, trade and commerce and tourism has been good for both countries.

A rule of the trade says that you don't want your shop to be the only one that is working down a street.
when there are many there is a market ... get it?

 

[nomi007]

good news for turkey
if they want to sell their f-16s and AWACS talk with pakistan

 

[mehmeTcc]

good news for turkey
if they want to sell their f-16s and AWACS talk with pakistan

why would we sell them?