Image source: topwar.ru
Greek air force against the background of worsening relations with Turkey began to receive renewed fighters. The first two F-16 upgraded to the level of the Viper, transferred to the military. About it reports the Ministry of defense of the Republic.
The transfer of the first two aircraft took place on the Tanagra air base near Athens in the presence of the defense Minister and other senior government officials and the U.S. Ambassador in Athens and representatives of Lockheed Martin.
The program of modernization of the Greek F-16 Fighting Falcon to the level of the F-16 Viper was launched in 2018. As it was reported, it was designed for four years. In Lockheed Martin announced that the entire program will be implemented in Greece, the first two years are "the development of a prototype and system integration", and the update will begin in 2020. The first aircraft of the us company promised to deliver in 2022, so it happened, according to the Greek Ministry of defense.
From 1988 to 2010, the air force received a total of 170 F-16s, at the beginning of the modernization remained 155 aircraft. According to the plans of the Ministry of defense of Greece under the modernization was to get 123 of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, but it was decided to upgrade to the level of the F-16 Viper only 83 of the machine.
As stated in Athens, upgraded F-16 Viper and the planned delivery of F-35A, will allow Greece to confront "aggressive intentions" of Turkey. By the way, due to the deterioration of relations between Turks and Greeks, Kiev remained without Greek air defense systems, including s-300, to which Ukraine is a very wanted. As stated in Athens, on the transfer or sale of SAM "even of question".
