Greece Begins Hunt for Fighter

The Watcher

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Is it likely that Greece will get the typhoons in next 5 years? What fighter would best fullfil Hellenic airforce's requirements?

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Greece Begins Hunt for Fighter

Nearly five years after Greece decided to postpone acquisition of the Eurofighter Typhoon until after 2004, the procurement of a fourth-generation fighter aircraft has taken on a new urgency: Much of the existing fleet is nearing the end of its service life.

The Hellenic Air Force General Staff, in an internal report compiled last month, said the service by 2010 should buy 60 to 90 fighter aircraft equipped with an integrated, automated, internal and programmable self-protection system if it is to maintain the current force level of 315 combat aircraft.

“Certainly, the procurement of a new, fourth-generation fighter for the Hellenic Air Force is under consideration,†Spilios Spiliotopoulos, minister of national defense, said in a Dec. 2 interview. “But specifics like the number of aircraft, their technical and operational characteristics, the timetables and the general political considerations, are issues which will be addressed and decided in the framework of the government’s decision-making process.â€

The government has many options, including taking up the Typhoon procurement as originally planned, or even considering that plane among possible contenders for this fourth-generation fighter program.

“The need for retirement of older-generation platforms is becoming the main push for the procurement of a new, fourth-generation fighter,†said Ioannis Th. Mazis, professor of geopolitics and president of the Scientific Council at the Ministry of Defense’s Defense Analyses Institute. “Over the next two to three years, the Hellenic Air Force is forced to retire about 100 A-7E/H Corsair IIs, about 25 F-4E Phantom II SRAs, and the remaining RF-4E Phantom II tactical reconnaissance aircraft — a staggering 130 combat aircraft.â€

The requirement for new combat aircraft was established in the late 1990s, and the Air Force in 2000 and 2001 ordered 60 F-16 Block 52+ and 15 Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 aircraft and planned the upgrade of 10 older Mirage 2000 aircraft to the 2005-5 Mk2 version, all for more than 4.1 billion euros ($5.4 billion). The government also planned to buy 60 Eurofighter Typhoons, with an option for another 30 planes, for 5 billion euros.

Typhoons Postponed

But on March 29, 2001, the government — citing the implementation of new social welfare policies, development projects and the pending 2004 Olympic Games here — postponed the Typhoon procurement.

“Following the well-defined national defense planning procedures, the respective military authorities will study the operational and tactical environment, the technological developments, the market reality and the operational requirements, and will set the context for the implementation of the [new fighter procurement] program,†Spiliotopoulos said.

Mazis noted the fighter program will have “certain interesting political ramifications.â€

He said the country not only has to get the “best value for money†in operational performance for the price, it also must “select the best and most geopolitically beneficial weapon system, especially at this time, when a lot of foreign policy issues have to be resolved.â€

He pointed to issues such as the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey, in view of the European Union’s expected decision Dec. 17 to begin EU membership talks with Ankara; the Turkish casus belli against Greece in the case of territorial waters expansion; and violation of Greek airspace by Turkish fighters.

“This approach is not only realistic but imperative,†Mazis said. “And to use an old Greek saying: Settled accounts make good friends.â€

source: Defensenews.com (subscribers only)
 

Red aRRow

Forum Bouncer
The requirement for new combat aircraft was established in the late 1990s, and the Air Force in 2000 and 2001 ordered 60 F-16 Block 52+ and 15 Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 aircraft and planned the upgrade of 10 older Mirage 2000 aircraft to the 2005-5 Mk2 version, all for more than 4.1 billion euros ($5.4 billion). The government also planned to buy 60 Eurofighter Typhoons, with an option for another 30 planes, for 5 billion euros.
But on March 29, 2001, the government — citing the implementation of new social welfare policies, development projects and the pending 2004 Olympic Games here — postponed the Typhoon procurement.
Why didn't Greece join the JSF program??
Another way could be to order more Block 52s in place of the cancelled Typhoons.
 
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