The adoption by the US Senate of the country's defense budget, including the amendment of Menendez-Rubio, strengthening cooperation in the military field with Greece, revived talks on the possible acquisition by our southern neighbor of fifth-generation F-35 fighters, commented in the editorial office. the electronic edition of the Athenian daily Kathimerini.
The Greek Air Force certainly wants the aircraft it deems necessary to upgrade its capacity. With the latest program to upgrade 83 of the F-16s to the Viper configuration, Air Force officers point to improved F-35 interoperability capabilities. In addition, by adding the F-35 to modernized F-16s and Rafale aircraft acquired from France, the Greek Air Force will dramatically improve its capabilities and become one of the strongest in the region.
Senior Air Force officers familiar with the F-35's capabilities describe it as "the last manned aircraft", estimating that the sixth generation of multi-role aircraft is likely to be unmanned.
The main issue remains the price. But as 720 F-35s have already been delivered, most of them in European countries and even non-NATO ones such as Finland and Switzerland, Athens hopes that the value of the plane, which now stands at about $ 100 million, will fall. Lockheed Martin executives estimate that Greece could acquire the F-35A, the conventional version of the fighter, for less than $ 80 million per unit.
Greece has already committed € 2.5 billion to purchase 18 Rafale aircraft and € 3.05 billion to three modern FDI frigates. Exercising the option of six more Rafales and three or four corvettes will cost the country another 2.5-3 billion euros.
In addition, if Greece decides to buy the F-35, it will be five years before the machines go into service. In addition, the country's air bases will need to be modernized.
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