The Hellenic Minister of National Defense, Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, yesterday attended the handover ceremony of the first two modernised F -16 fighter jets to the “VIPER” variant, which took place at the facilities of the Hellenic Aviation Industry (EAB) in Tanagra.
The most advanced version of the F-16 in the world today. Greece’s cooperation with the USA in the F-16 aircraft program has strong foundations and a past as already in 1989, our Air Force procured the first 40 F-16 Block 30 aircraft, followed in 1997 by the receipt of 40 F- 16 Block 50, in 2003 the receipt of 60 more F-16 Block 52+ aircraft, while the last receipt of F-16 aircraft took place in 2009 with the 30 most modern F-16 Block 52+ Advanced.
In 2020, therefore, the implementation of the modernisation program of 83 F-16 Block 52+ and 52+ Advanced aircraft in the “Viper” version began. Today is therefore another milestone in the long and glorious history of the Air Force, as the first two Greek F-16 “Viper” join its firepower and with their material characteristics, advanced electronic systems will contribute to the further strengthening the combat capability and overall deterrent power of the Armed Forces.
Hellenic Minister of National Defense, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos
Present were the Minister of Finance, Mr Christos Staikouras, the Minister of Development, Mr Adonis Georgiadis, the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Mr Nikolaos Hardalias, the Chief of Defense Forces General Konstantinos Floros, the Chief of General Staff Vice-Admiral Stylianos Petrakis, the Chief of General Staff Vice Admiral (I) Themistocles Bourolias, the GES Deputy Commander Lieutenant General George Kellis, the US Ambassador to Greece Mr George Tsounis, representatives of Lockheed Martin, local authorities of the Self-Government and the Church. The consecration ceremony was officiated by the Metropolitan of Thebes, Levadeia and Avlis.
