The F-16V Viper considerably improves the Hellenic Air Power’s capacity to function collectively with its Rafales, its future F-35s and different NATO platforms.
Lockheed Martin introduced on Sep. 23, 2025, the supply of the forty second upgraded F-16V Viper to the HAF (Hellenic Air Power), marking the midway level in Greece’s modernization program. “This milestone strengthens Greece’s function in allied operations and underscores our dedication to delivering mission-ready functionality,” the corporate stated.
The HAF is at the moment upgrading 84 of its F-16C/D Block 52+ plane to the F-16V Viper Block 72 configuration, as per a 2018 contract with Lockheed. The F-16V Viper designation is supposed for plane upgraded to the Block 70/72 commonplace, relatively than newly constructed airframes.
This improve program for the HAF, which is able to proceed till 2027, will give its F-16V Vipers the APG-83 AESA (Energetic Electronically Scanned Array) radar, Modular Mission Laptop, enhanced avionics, Computerized Floor Collision Avoidance System and improved cockpit shows and controls, making Greece’s F-16V fleet among the many most superior in Europe.
We’ve delivered the 4⃣2⃣nd upgraded F-16V to @HAFspokesperson, marking the midway level in Greece’s fleet modernization program! ✈️🇬🇷
This milestone strengthens Greece’s function in allied operations and underscores our dedication to delivering mission-ready functionality. pic.twitter.com/ViGCzbhzko
— Lockheed Martin Europe (@LMEuropeNews) September 23, 2025
Hellenic Air Power Improve Plans
Ekathimerini credited the uptick within the deliveries of the upgraded fashions “to the shut cooperation between Lockheed Martin, the Hellenic Aerospace Business, the US authorities and the Air Power.” The report quoted Lockheed’s Vice President of the Built-in Fighter Group Mike Shoemaker, who stated “The F-16 Viper enhances interoperability inside NATO, improves operational effectiveness, and strengthens Greece’s function within the safety of the broader area.”
Greece has 121-122 Block 50/52+/52+ Superior fighters, and initially deliberate to improve this whole fleet to the F-16V Viper configuration. Nevertheless, it later determined to incorporate solely the Block 52+ and Block 52+ Superior, whereas for the remaining 38 F-16C/D Block 50s It could pursue an in-house modernization and SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) through the use of gear faraway from the Block 52 airframes in the course of the Viper Block 70 improve.
This work was to be undertaken in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, which might collaborate with Greece’s home Hellenic Aerospace Business (EAB). Nevertheless, as we reported right here at The Aviationist, Greek authorities had been reconsidering the modernization of the 38 F-16 Block 50s.
This modification of plan was stated to be owing to the gradual tempo of the negotiations with Lockheed Martin; jet thought of an out of date variant which might not be delivered earlier than the tip of the last decade (2031-32); upgraded Block 50s not absolutely optimized to crew up with the F-35A and the Rafale; the attainable want for an additional improve intervention by the tip of that decade, owing to the age of the airframes.
Athens had due to this fact discovered exercising the choice to purchase no less than part of the 20 further F-35A Lightning II, rising the orderd of the 20 it already signed on Jul. 25, 2024. Nevertheless, as different stories stated, no last determination has been taken on this regard, and the negotiations with Lockheed Martin are nonetheless underway.
Midway Mark of F-16V Improve
Veteranos revealed that the forty second F-16 Viper delivered to the HAF was additionally upgraded in collaboration with EAB/HAI’s services in Tanagra and Lockheed Martin, marking the 50% milestone of the improve program. The report quoted president and CEO of the EAB Alexandros Diakopoulos, who stated: “Home added worth stays in Greece and is reworked into safety for the Aegean. We proceed with the identical momentum, alongside the Air Power.”
Παραλαβή των 2 Πρώτων Εκσυγχρονισμένων Αεροσκαφών F-16 Viper pic.twitter.com/YQ1vFibYoh
— Hellenic Air Power (@HAFspokesperson) September 13, 2022
“The improve is being carried out in Greece, with the contribution of specialised Lockheed Martin groups, whereas the Greek financial system has already reaped advantages of over $1 billion from this system,” added the report. In accordance with Greek Metropolis Occasions, the upgraded F-16V Vipers are being distributed between the Souda-based one hundred and fifteenth Fighter Wing’s 343rd “Asteri,” 340th “Alepou” and 337th “Phantom” squadrons.
The pilots are “logging […] tons of of Viper flight hours, shifting the Air Power towards network-centric warfare, with a deal with absolutely leveraging the plane’s superior options,” stated the report. It additionally praised the AESA APG-83 radar for providing “superior goal detection and monitoring at categorized ranges, offering a major edge.”
“Paired with the upgraded Hyperlink 16 system, it allows real-time information sharing throughout networked plane and the Operations Heart, enhancing air protection coordination. The radar excels at detecting and analyzing air, sea, and floor targets, crucial for the advanced menace situations within the Aegean,” Greek Metropolis Occasions additional stated.
thirtieth F-16 “Viper” delivered to the Hellenic Air Power! ✅
This improve strengthens Greece’s protection and its capacity to function seamlessly with allied forces. 🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/knDKAZyHda
— Lockheed Martin Europe (@LMEuropeNews) January 15, 2025
The importance of AESA radars and tactical information hyperlinks was demonstrated in the course of the latest INIOCHOS 25 and Ramstein Flag 25 workout routines, the place the HAF Vipers geared up with these options “delivered spectacular leads to networked operations […] when paired with different Vipers, Rafales or the F-35s.”
HAF’s Different Fleets
The HAF additionally operates 24 Dassault Rafale F3Rs, a quantity that the Greek authorities doesn’t plan to broaden, in accordance with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsosakis’s wide-ranging interview to Defence Evaluation in November 2024. The service additionally operates 24 Mirage 2000-5 Mark IIs, cut up into 19 EG and 5 BG variants, in accordance with the 2025 World Air Forces report.
