Greece initiates major overhaul of Air Force by ‘selling’ older jets.

[Supra]

This latest fairly obvious statement by the Defence Minister further convinces me that I could do that job!

"Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias believes that the Greek air force needs greater uniformity and interoperability of its fleet. He said: "We have F-4, Mirage 2000-5, Block 30 F-16, Block 50 F-16, Block 52 F-16, Viper F-16, and Rafales. We cannot operate this way. F-4s need to be retired and, if possible, sold. The Mirage 2000-5 is an aircraft with exceptional capabilities and can be sold. Block 30 F-16 planes must be sold. I think we will be able to sell [ed. Mirage 2000-5 and Block 30 F-16]".

This decision is related to the huge costs of maintaining different types of aircraft compared to having compatible fleets and the need for modernisation or withdrawal of ageing machines. Dendias emphasised: "As for the other aircraft, we need to upgrade F-16s to the Viper level, we need to strengthen our fleet of Rafales – we have 24, but it would be good to get up to 30 – and of course acquire Block 4 F-35s, which have not yet taken to the skies, but will remedy all the teething problems of a fourth-generation aircraft".

With the only other currently flying users of the F-4 being Turkey (No love lost there!) South Korea (retiring the last jets 31st Aug this year) & an extremely highly improbable sale to Iran, I say ‘Good Luck’ with that one Pal!

Naturally we as enthusiasts welcome the vast variety of Greek Air Force aircraft & helicopters, but you really don’t have to be a Rocket Scientist to realise the maintenance, training & spares-holding for such an eclectic fleet must
be horrendously expensive?

The only probable options here for disposal are to gift all but the F-4 jets to the likes of Ukraine (more delays for Mirage training!) or do a deal with the AdAir providers, being ATAC, Draken, Top Aces, Raven, TAC et al to further bolster the booming DACT industry?

www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/greece-in ... 94e7&ei=11
Also seen on 'Janes' Website adding credence to this article.

[Andyph]

Yeah can't imagine anything but the F-4s retiring.
and maybe the F-16s to Ukraine .
The Mirages would be perfect for Adversary work

[Kurnass]

Yeah can't imagine anything but the F-4s retiring.
and maybe the F-16s to Ukraine .
The Mirages would be perfect for Adversary work

India might be interested in the Mirages. They were interested in the previously retired Mirages, but they were not in good shape. Which will be different for the still operational Mirages.

[Supra]

Thanks Kurnass...Never say never! My thoughts are that India is in a somewhat similar situation to Greece regarding the variety of different types they operate? However with India, the vast airspace they need to protect dictates the need for superior numbers of operational fighter jets & to that end their current Mirage 2000 fleet was being upgraded. In a attempt to provide sufficient jet commitment, India will shortly become the last bastion of the Mig-21 & subsequently their Mig-29's in the next few years.
Their diminished aging Mirage fleet is around 25 aircraft I believe, with around half airworthy & the remainder devoid of major components rendering them as 'Spares Recovery' only!
NOT really the basis for 'Type in Service' expansion, unless they can steal them from Greece? Going forward I can foresee more Rafale's being delivered & subject to the outcome of the Russian aggression, I dare say more Su-30/Su-37 jets might be desirable too?

Looking at the Global market of existing users for 'high-mileage' Mirage 2000-5....

Taiwan is a possibility due to increased Chinese threat, but they're wed to F-16V & averse to the high cost of upgrading of their current fleet of Mirage 2000's!

Egypt is definitely not on peoples 'Christmas Card' list!

Peru is expected to retire its Mirage fleet by the end of 2024 or next year, so non-starters!

Indonesia signaled its withdrawal from acquiring ex. UAE Mirage 2000 jets in Feb 2024. (They could change their mind?)

Brazil retired theirs. Managed to sell a few to PROCOR the french-based DACT provider IIRC. (I think PROCOR could now get a better deal on AdA retiring jets?)

Happy to receive corrected info'or other potential possibilities?

[Stroudy]

Seems like higher block F-16s and multi role Rafale is all they really need, and probably Rafale alone would do the job. Stick everything else on webuyanyfighterjet.com (and get ripped off) and buy a load of them. Swiss Tony could help, i'll find his number

[Thunder]

83 Blk52+/52M(out of the 90 delivered), are being upgraded to Blk72 “Viper” standard. The Blk30 and Blk50 jets are not part of this program. It was and maybe is still the plan to take the current avionics from the Blk52+/M jets and install into the Blk50’s giving them a very cost effective upgrade. The Blk30, however many are left from the 40 initially delivered are going to be surplus to requirements, figures suggest 32 which over 34 yrs is a pretty good attrition rate.

In relation to the Rafales, it’s being put about that Greece would like to buy another 6 on top the current 24, but only if it can sell the remaining M2K-5. With the M2K-5 being a very capable platform, it doesn’t make sense at first glance to get rid of 20+ a/c and replace with 6, but with the streamlined training and maintenance requirements on fewer types it must produce substantial savings.

This then opens the door for the order for up to 40 F-35

If all goes to plan, Greece is going to have one helluva powerful air force within the next 5-10 years.

83 x F-16 Blk72
?? x F-16 upgraded Blk50
30 x Rafale
40 x F-35A

Unfortunately Greece lets itself down with a mediocre support infrastructure with very limited and unreliable air transport, limited AEW&C, very limited maritime patrol/surveillance and lack of aerial refuelling.