The
Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated
HAF (in ,
Polemikí Aeroporía, literally "Military Aviation") is the
air forceAn air force, also known in some countries as an air army or historically an army air corps, is in the broadest sense, the national military that primarily conducts aerial warfare...
of
GreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula....
. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the
Hellenic ArmyThe Hellenic Army is the land force of Greece. The Army of the modern nation of Greece has a history of nearly 190 years and came to its present form, gradually through those years....
and the
Hellenic NavyThe Hellenic Navy is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence...
, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the world. The Hellenic Air Force includes approximately 33,000 active troops, of whom 11,750 are career officers, 14,000 are professional conscripts (ΕΠ.ΟΠ.), 7,250 are volunteer conscripts and 1,100 are women.
During the period of
monarchyThe Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
, between 1911-1922 and 1935-1973, the force was known as the
Royal Hellenic Air Force (Ελληνική Βασιλική Αεροπορία, EBA,
Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía).
The motto of the Hellenic Air Force is "Αίεν Υψικρατείν" (
Aíen Ypsikrateín, "Always Dominate the Heights"), and the HAF ensign represents a flying eagle in front of the Hellenic Air Force roundel. The Hellenic Air Force is one of the three branches of the
Hellenic Armed ForcesThe armed forces of Greece consist of:* The Hellenic National Defense General Staff* The Hellenic Army* The Hellenic Navy* The Hellenic Air ForceThe civilian authority for the Greek military is the Ministry of National Defence....
.
History
The Hellenic Air Force was founded as an army aviation service in 1911 and has more than 90 years of history.
Foundation and the Balkan Wars
In 1911 the Greek Government appointed French specialists to form the
Hellenic Aviation Service. Six Greek officers were sent to
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
for training, while the first four "Farman" type aircraft were ordered.All of the six graduated from the Farman school in Etampes near Paris,but only four served subsequently in aviation. The first civilian Greek aviator who was given military rank was Emmanouil Argyropoulos, who flew in a
NieuportNieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company famous for racers before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.-Beginnings:...
IV.G. "Alkyon" aircraft, on February 8, 1912.
The first military flight was made on May 13, 1912 by Lieutenant
Dimitrios KamberosDimitrios Kamberos was the first military aviator in Greek history. His name was spelled variously in contemporary foreign sources, including Camberos and Cambères....
. In June, Kamberos flew with the "Daedalus", a Farman Aviation Works aircraft that had been converted into a
seaplaneA seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes are usually divided into two categories: floatplanes and flying boats...
, setting a new world average speed record at 110 km/h and the foundations of Naval Aviation. During September of the same year, the Greek Army fielded its first squadron, the "Aviators Company" (
Λόχος Αεροπόρων). On October 5 1912, Kamberos flew the first combat mission, a
reconnaissanceReconnaissance is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information. Militarily, its shorthand Canadian and British form is recce , its American usage form is recon...
flight over
ThessalyThessaly is one of the 13 peripheries of Greece, and is further sub-divided into 4 prefectures. The capital of the periphery and traditional geographical region is Larissa. Together with the regions of Macedonia and Thrace, it is often referred to unofficially as Northern Greece...
.This was the first day of the Balkan wars, and during the same day a similar mission was flown by German mercenaries in Ottoman service in the Thrace front against the Bulgarians.The Greek and the Ottoman mission flown during the same day are the first military aviation combat missions in a conventional war.As a matter of fact all Balkan countries used military aircraft and foreign mercenaries during the Balkan Wars.January 24, 1913 saw the first naval co-operation war mission worldwide, which took place above the
DardanellesThe Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosporus. It is located at approximately...
. Aided by the
destroyer VelosVelos was a Niki class destroyer that served in the Royal Hellenic Navy .The ship, along with her three sister ships, was ordered from Germany in 1905 and was built in the Vulcan shipyard at Stettin....
, first
LieutenantLieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service, emergency medical services or police officer rank....
Michael Moutoussis and
EnsignEnsign is a junior rank of commissioned officer in the militaries of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
Aristidis MoraitinisAristides Moraïtines was born in Smyrna . He was educated in France, but during the reign of King Otto, he was a staunch member of the Russian Party...
flew the
Maurice FarmanMaurice Alain Farman was a French Grand Prix motor racing champion, an aviator, and an aircraft manufacturer and designer...
hydroplane and drew up a diagram of the positions of the Turkish fleet, against which they dropped four bombs. This was not the first air-to-surface bombing in military history as there was a precedent in the Turkish Italian war of 1911 ,but the first recorded attack against ships from the air.
Balkan Wars and aftermath
Initially the Hellenic Army and the Royal Hellenic Navy operated separate Army Aviation and Naval Aviation units. During the Balkan Wars, various French Henry and Maurice Farman aircraft types were in use. One of them, the
Daidalos, was converted into a seaplane, and used for reconnaissance and bombing missions over the Ottoman naval base in the Sea of Marmara, one of the first such missions in the world. Naval Aviation was officially founded in 1914 by the then CinC of the Greek Navy, British Admiral Mark Kerr. Greek aviation units participated in
World War IWorld War I , also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance...
and the Asia Minor Campaign, equipped by the
AlliesThe Entente powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The key members of the Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire. New Zealand, Belgium, Serbia, Canada, Australia, Italy, Romania and the United States were also drawn into the war...
with a variety of French and British designs.
In 1930 the Aviation Ministry was founded, establishing the Air Force as the third branch of the Armed Forces.Naval and Army aviation were amalgamated into a single service. In 1931 the
Hellenic Air Force AcademyThe Hellenic Air Force Academy is a military academy responsible for supplying the Hellenic Air Force with professionally trained pilots, aircraft engineers and air defence inspectors...
, the
Scholi Ikaron (Σχολή Ικάρων), was founded.
In 1939 an order for 24
Marcel Bloch MB.151The Bloch MB.150 was a French low-wing, all-metal monoplane fighter aircraft with retractable landing gear and enclosed cockpit developed by Société des Avions Marcel Bloch as a contender in the 1934 French air ministry competition for a new fighter design.-Development:Although the competition was...
fighter aircraft was placed, but only 9 of the aircraft reached Greece, since the outbreak of World War II prevented the French from completing the order. The aircraft served in the 24th Pursuit Squadron (MD -
Moira Dioxis) of the then Hellenic Royal Air Force.
World War II and Civil War
During the Second World War, the RHAF successfully resisted the
Italian invasionThe Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
in 1940, but practically the entire force was destroyed by the German
LuftwaffeLuftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1933 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956.Schweizer Luftwaffe is also the name of the Swiss Air...
in April 1941.
The Air Force was rebuilt in the Middle East as part of the British
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts.The RAF operates almost 1,109...
, flying
SpitfiresThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries through the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used into the 1950s both as a front line fighter and in secondary roles...
,
HurricanesThe Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. Some production of the Hurricane was carried out in Canada by the Canada Car and Foundry Co Ltd....
and
Martin BaltimoreThe Martin 187 Baltimore was a two-engined light attack bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company in the United States. To enable the aircraft to be supplied to the British under the Lend-Lease Act the United States Army Air Forces designation A-30 was allocated...
s (
335thThe 335th Bomber Squadron , callsign "Tigers", is the oldest squadron currently in service with the Hellenic Air Force. It is currently based at Araxos Air Base in the Peloponnese...
,
336thThe 336th Bomber Squadron , callsign "Olympus", is the second oldest squadron in service with the Hellenic Air Force. It is based at Araxos Air Base in the Peloponnese, and, following the withdrawal of the type from 335th Squadron, it is the last HAF squadron equipped with the A-7...
and 13th Squadrons).
After Greece's liberation in 1944, it returned home and subsequently played a decisive role in the
Greek Civil WarThe Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom, United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, which lasted until 1949.
Post-war developments
The Royal Hellenic Air Force participated in the
Korean WarThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
with a
transport flightThe Greek Expeditionary Force in Korea was formed in response to the United Nations appeal for assistance in the Korean War...
.
In 1952 Greece was admitted to NATO and the Air Force was rebuilt and organized according to
NATOThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization ); ), also called "the Atlantic Alliance", is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on April 4, 1949...
standards, with US assistance. New aircraft, including jets, were introduced.
The F-84F first flew with the Hellenic Air Force in 1955. The Thunderstreak was developed to overcome the limitations of the Thunderjet's straight flying surfaces. The RF-84F was the reconnaissance version of the F-84 F Thunderstreak. This aircraft remained operational with the 348 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the Hellenic Air Force from 1956 to March 29 1991.
In the late 1960s the RHAF acquired new jet aircraft, that served well for almost 20 years. The main jets that entered the HAF fleet during this period were the F-104G "Starfighter" and later on, the Convair F-102 "Delta Dagger" (in service 1969-1975) and the F-5 "Freedom Fighter".
In the mid 1970s the RHAF was further modernized with deliveries of the
Dassault Mirage F1The Dassault Mirage F1 is a French single-seat air-superiority fighter and attack aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation as a successor of the Mirage III family. The Mirage F1 entered service in the French Air Force in the early seventies...
CG fleet and the first batch of
F-4E "Phantom"The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. Proving highly adaptable, it became a major part of the air wings of the United States...
, upgraded versions of which still serve today.
Modernization
Until the late 1980s the Air Force deployed Nike-Hercules Missiles armed with U.S. nuclear warheads. As a result of
Greco-Turkish tensionsGreek-Turkish relations have been marked by alternating periods of mutual hostility and reconciliation ever since Greece won its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821...
around the 1974 Turkish invasion in
CyprusCyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon....
, the U.S. removed its nuclear weapons from Greek and Turkish alert units to storage. Greece saw this as another pro-Turkish move by NATO and withdrew its forces from NATO’s military command structure from 1974 to 1980.
In 1988 the first fourth generation fighters were introduced, marking the beginning of a new era: the first Mirage 2000 EG/BG aircraft were delivered to the 114 Combat Wing and equipped the 331 and 332 squadrons. In January 1989, the first F-16C/D Block 30 arrived in Nea Anchialos (111 Combat Wing) and were allocated between the 330 and 346 squadrons.
In March 29 1991 the RF-84F were retired from service after 34 years and 7 months of operational life. In November 1992 more RF-4E were delivered to the 348 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. In 1997 the reception of fourth generation aircraft continued. In July, delivery of forty
F-16 Block 50The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, daytime Visual Flight Rules fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft...
began. The new aircraft, equipped with the
LANTIRNLow Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or LANTIRN, is a system for use on the USAF's premier fighter aircraft -- the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon...
navigation and targeting pod as well as AMRAAM and
HARMThe AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile is a tactical, air-to-surface missile designed to home in on electronic transmissions coming from surface-to-air radar systems. It was originally developed by Texas Instruments as a replacement for the AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard ARM system...
missiles, were allocated to the 341 and 347 squadrons.
Entering the 21st century
Greece participated in NATO "nuclear weapons sharing" until 2001, using
A-7 Corsair IIThe Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War. The Corsair was later adopted by the United States Air Force, to include the Air National Guard, to...
s to deploy tactical
B61The B61 nuclear bomb is the primary thermonuclear weapon in the U.S. Enduring Stockpile following the end of the Cold War.-Development:The B61, originally known as the TX-61, was designed in 1963. It was designed and built by the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. It began from a...
nuclear warheads from Araxos Air Base. Greece then strategically decided to remove all nuclear weapons under storage in Greece and did not purchase any more aircraft with nuclear mounting capabilities.
In September 2004 started the Mirage 2000BG/EG fleet upgrade to the standard 2000-5 Mk2 and the project was undertaken by the French manufacturer Dassault and the
Hellenic Aerospace IndustryThe Hellenic Aerospace Industry is the leading aerospace company of Greece. The company has undertaken over the years a great deal of subcontracting work with major International Aerospace companies and has accomplished many original developments in military electronics,...
(EAB). Fifteen aircraft were ordered, while ten more were undertaken for upgrade by Dassault and
EABThe Hellenic Aerospace Industry is the leading aerospace company of Greece. The company has undertaken over the years a great deal of subcontracting work with major International Aerospace companies and has accomplished many original developments in military electronics,...
. The enhancements included upgraded radar and avionics, air-refueling capabilities, new self-defense system and upgraded engine, while the cockpit has taken some serious reforms.
In 2005, Greece was the first country worldwide to add the
F-16 Block 52+The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, daytime Visual Flight Rules fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft...
to its inventory. Ninety of these 4.5th generation aircraft were ordered and delivery begun the same year. This advanced F-16 type is an improved version of the Block 50 featuring a more powerful radar, better communications systems and an upgraded engine. The Hellenic Air Force Block 52+ Falcons belong to the 337, 340, 343 and 335 Squadrons with call signs "Ghost", "Fox", "Star" and "Tiger" respectively. 337 SQ is based at Larissa Air Force Base (110 Combat Wing), the other two in Souda Air Base (115 CW) and the last in Araxos Air Base.
Due to the retirement of units that have ended their operational life (A-7E Corsair II and F-4 Phantom II), the HAF should be looking forward to acquiring new 4th, 4.5th or 5th generation fighters in order to reach a total number of 300 advanced fighters, according to the Supreme Air Force Council
"2007-2012 operational planning" study which was published in 2007. Possible candidates for a 4.5th or 5th generation aircraft are mainly the
Eurofighter TyphoonThe Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine canard-delta wing multirole aircraft. It is being designed and built by a consortium of three separate partner companies: Alenia Aeronautica, BAE Systems, and EADS working through a holding company Eurofighter GmbH which was formed in 1986...
,
Dassault RafaleThe Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engined delta-wing highly agile multi-role 4.5th-generation jet fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Introduced in 2000, the Rafale is being produced both for land-based use with the French Air Force and for carrier-based operations with...
,
JAS 39 GripenThe Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. Gripen International acts as a prime contracting organisation and is responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter around the world....
,
F-35 Lightning IIThe Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, stealth-capable multirole fighter, that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air defense missions...
, and the
F/A-18E/F Super HornetThe Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a 4.5+ generation carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. The F/A-18E single-seat variant and F/A-18F tandem-seat variant are larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm gun and can carry...
. A pro-Russian lobby in Greece promotes the acquisition of
Sukhoi Su-35The Sukhoi Su-35 is a 4+ generation heavy class, long-range, multi-role, air superiority fighter and strike fighter. Due to the similar features and components it contains, the Sukhoi Su-35 is considered to be a close cousin of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI, a specialized version of the Su-30...
or
Su-37The Sukhoi Su-37 is a Russian experimental multi-role jet fighter aircraft. It is a single seat fighter modified from the 1st generation Su-35 prototypes for thrust vector control testing....
.
Administrative organisation
The Hellenic Air Force is overseen by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, whose head is minister
Vangelis MeimarakisEvangelos "Vangelis" Meimarakis is a Greek lawyer and politician, former Minister of National Defence of Greece.He was born in Athens. Meimarakis joined New Democracy in 1974. He was involved in student union politics while at Panteion University and was a founding member of ONNED, the New...
. More specifically, HAF is directly overseen by the
Hellenic National Defence General Staff.
- Minister of National Defence: Vangelis Meimarakis
Evangelos "Vangelis" Meimarakis is a Greek lawyer and politician, former Minister of National Defence of Greece.He was born in Athens. Meimarakis joined New Democracy in 1974. He was involved in student union politics while at Panteion University and was a founding member of ONNED, the New...
- Chief of Air Force General Staff: Lieutenant Gen. Vasilios Klokozas
- Chief of Tactical Air Force Command (HTAFC): Lieutenant Gen. Ioannis Patsantaras
- Chief of Air Force Support Command (HAFSC): Maj. Gen. Konstantinos Iatridis
- Chief of Air Force Training Command (HAFTC): Major Gen. Konstantinos Vlachavas
The three commands are the
Tactical Air Command (Αρχηγείο Τακτικής Αεροπορίας, ATA), headquartered at Larisa, the
Air Support Command (Διοίκηση Αεροπορικής Υποστήριξης, ΔΑΥ) and the
Air Training Command (Διοίκηση Αεροπορικής Εκπαίδευσης, ΔΑΕ), both based in
AthensAthens , the capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery; as one of the world's oldest cities, its recorded history spans around 3,400 years....
.
The
Tactical Air Command includes eight Combat Wings and one Transport Wing. The Combat Wings have six fighter ground-attack squadrons. There are ten fighter squadrons, one regular reconnaissance squadron, and one marine reconnaissance squadron. Three transport squadrons and two helicopter squadrons form the organization of the air portion of the Tactical Air Command. The
Air Training Command includes four training squadrons.
The eight major H.A.F. installations are located in Larisa, Nea Anchialos (west of Volos), Elefsis, west of Athens,
ThessalonikiThessaloniki , Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the Greek region of Macedonia. It is honorarily called the Συμπρωτεύουσα Symprotevousa of Greece, as it was once called the συμβασιλεύουσα symvasilevousa of the Byzantine Empire...
,
TanagraTanagra is a community north of Athens in Boeotia, not far from Thebes, that was noted in antiquity for its mass-produced mold-cast and fired terracotta figurines: see Tanagra figurine. Pausanias mentions in its location the ancient city of Graea, eponymous of the Graikoi, a Boeotian tribe whose...
, north of Athens,
Souda BaySouda Bay is a bay and natural harbour on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano, and runs west to east...
,
AraxosAraxos , Latin form: Araxus is a village located in the municipality of Larissos in the northwestern part of the prefecture of Achaia. It is located on a road connecting south to Lappa and east to Lakkopetra and Kato Achaia and also a road to Kalogria and Metochi...
in the northern Peloponnese, and
AndravidaAndravída is a city in the Ilia Prefecture of the Peloponnese, Greece. It has a military base on the east side and a forest on the north side. It was the capital of the Principality of Achaea from 1295 until 1460; after this it was conquered and ruled by the Ottoman Empire until Greek independence...
. Other airports supporting military operations are located in the Aegean Islands of
KarpathosKarpathos is the second largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands, in the southeastern Aegean Sea. The island is comprised of the municipality of Karpathos plus the community of Olympos. Part of Olympos also extends north to the neighboring Saria Island...
,
SantoriniSantorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about southeast from Greece's mainland. The largest island is known as Thēra , forming the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately and a 2001 census...
(Thira),
RhodesRhodes is a Greek island approximately southwest of Turkey in eastern Aegean Sea...
,
SkyrosSkyros is the southernmost island of the Sporades, a Greek archipelago in the Aegean Sea. Around the 2nd millennium BC and slightly later, the island was known as The Island of the Magnetes where the Magnetes used to live and later Pelasgia and Dolopia and later Skyros. At 209 km² it is the...
, and
LemnosLemnos or Limnos is an island in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. It is part of the Greek prefecture of Lesbos and has a considerable area, about 477 km². Lemnos is mostly flat , but the west, and especially the northwest part, is rough and mountainous...
as well as in
KavalaKavala , is the second largest city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala prefecture. It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos.-Antiquity:...
,
HeraklionHeraklion or Iraklion , is the largest city and capital of Crete. It is also the fourth largest city in Greece. Its name is also spelled Herakleion, a transliteration of the ancient Greek and Katharevousa name, , or Iraklio, among other variants...
, Ritsona and Tatoi/Dekeleia, north of Athens.
- Combat operations are overseen by the Chief of Operations of the Supreme Air Force Council.
- Support services are managed by the Directorate of Aeronautical Support of the Air Force Support Command.
- The training squadrons and air force schools, like the "Icarus Air Force Academy
The Hellenic Air Force Academy is a military academy responsible for supplying the Hellenic Air Force with professionally trained pilots, aircraft engineers and air defence inspectors...
" and the "School of Advanced War Training", run by the Training Directorate of the Air Force Training Command.
Force structure
- Hellenic Air Force General Staff
- 251 Air Force General Hospital, Athens
- Center of Aviation Medicine
- Supreme Air Force Medical Committee
- Air Force Tactical Command
- Air Operations Center in Larissa
- 110th Combat Wing, Larissa AB
- 337 Fighter Squadron "Ghost" - (F-16C/D Block 52+)
- 346 Fighter Squadron "Jason" - (F-16C/D Block 30)
- 348 Reconnaissance Squadron "Eyes" - (RF-4E Phantom II)
- 111th Combat Wing, Nea Anchialos AB
- 330 Fighter Squadron "Thunder" - (F-16C/D Block 30)
- 341 Fighter Squadron "Ace" - (F-16C/D Block 50)
- 347 Fighter Squadron "Perseus" - (F-16C/D Block 50)
- 114th Combat Wing, Tanagra AB
- 331st Fighter Squadron "Theseus" - (Mirage 2000-5 Mk2)
- 332nd Fighter Squadron "Falcon/Geraki" - (Mirage 2000BGM/EGM3)
- 115th Combat Wing, Souda Bay, Crete
- 340th Fighter Squadron "Fox" - (F-16C/D Block 52+)
- 343rd Fighter Squadron "Star" - (F-16C/D Block 52+)
- 116th Combat Wing, Araxos AB
- 335th Fighter Squadron "Tiger"
The 335th Bomber Squadron , callsign "Tigers", is the oldest squadron currently in service with the Hellenic Air Force. It is currently based at Araxos Air Base in the Peloponnese...
- (F-16C/D Block 52+)
- 336th Bomber Squadron "Olympus"
The 336th Bomber Squadron , callsign "Olympus", is the second oldest squadron in service with the Hellenic Air Force. It is based at Araxos Air Base in the Peloponnese, and, following the withdrawal of the type from 335th Squadron, it is the last HAF squadron equipped with the A-7...
- (TA-7C Corsair II) (Note: to be replaced by F-16C/D Block 52+)
- 117th Combat Wing, Andravida AB
- 338 Interception Squadron "Ares" - (F-4E PI2000 Phantom II)
- 339 Interception Squadron "Ajax" - (F-4E PI2000 Phantom II)
- Radars
- 1st Area Control Centre - Hortiatis
- 2nd Area Control Centre - Parnitha
- 3rd Area Control Centre - Ziros
- Combat Groups
- 126 CG & 130 CG - Heraklion & Limnos
- 131 CG & 132 CG - Preveza & Agrinio
- 133 CG & 134 CG - Kastelli & Santorini
- 135 CG & 138 CG - Skyros & Tymbaki
- 350 Guided Missiles Wing, A/B Sedes, Thessaloniki
- 21st and 22nd GMS - Keratea & Skyros - (MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3)
- 23rd and 24th GMS - Thessaloniki & Tymbaki - (MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3)
- 25th and 26th GMS - Crete - (S-300 PMU1, Crotale NG/GR & TOR M1)
- Maintenance Squadron
- Special Units
- 380 AEW&C Squadron - Elefsis - (Embraer E-145H)
- Air Tactics Center & Tactical Weapons School - Andravida
- Aerial Photography Interpretation Center - Larissa
- 140 Electronic Warfare Flight - Larissa
- Air Force Support Command
112th Combat Wing, Elefsis AB
31 Special Operations Squadron
- 353 Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron - (P-3B Orion)
- VIP Transport Squadron - (Embraer ERJ-135ER & Gulfstream V)
- Tactical Transport Squadrons
- 354 TTS "Pegasus" - (C-27J Spartan)
- 355 TTS "Hercules" - (C-130H/B Hercules)
- 356 TTS "Hephestus" - (Bombardier CL-215 & Dornier Do-28)
- Search & Rescue Squadrons
- 358 SARS "Phaethon" - (AB 204/205 & AB 212 helicopters)
- 384 SARS "Puma" - (AS-332 Super Puma helicopters)
113th Combat Wing, Thessaloniki AB
383 Air Fire Fighting Squadron - (Bombardier CL-415)
129 Support Wing, Thessaloniki AB
Transport Squadron
Supply Squadron
206 Air Force Infrastructure Wing
201 Air Force Supply Depot
204 Ammunition Supply Depot
Petroleum Distribution Command
Medical Emergency Helicopter Unit - (AW-109 Hirundo Air Ambulance)
Air Force Training Command
- Air Force Academy
The Hellenic Air Force Academy is a military academy responsible for supplying the Hellenic Air Force with professionally trained pilots, aircraft engineers and air defence inspectors...
, Dekelia AB
- 360 Initial Training Squadron - (T-41D Mescalero)
- 120 Air Training Wing, Kalamata AB
- 361 Air Training Squadron - (T-6A Texan II)
- 362 Air Training Squadron - (T-2E Buckeye)
- 363 Air Training Squadron - (T-2E Buckeye)
- 364 Air Training Squadron - (T-6A Texan II)
- Sea Survival Training School
- 123 Technical Training Wing, Dekelia AB
- Air Defence Staff Training Center
- 124 Basic Training Wing, Tripoli, Arkadia
- 1st Cadets Training Squadron
- 2nd Cadets Training Squadron
- 3rd Cadets Training Squadron
- Local Defence Training Squadron
- Air Force Command and Staff College,
- Air Force Technical NCO Academy
- Air Force Administrative NCO Academy
- Air Force Radio Navigators Academy
- 128 Communications & Avionics Training Squadron - Kavouri, Athens
Commissioned officers
| NATO Code |
OF-1 |
OF-2 |
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| Insignia |
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| Title |
Anthyposminagos |
Yposminagos |
Sminagos |
Episminagos |
Antisminarchos |
Sminarchos |
Taxiarchos |
Ypopterarchos |
Antipterarchos |
Pterarchos |
| Greek |
Ανθυποσμηναγός |
Υποσμηναγός |
Σμηναγός |
Επισμηναγός |
Αντισμήναρχος |
Σμήναρχος |
Ταξίαρχος |
Υποπτέραρχος |
Αντιπτέραρχος |
Πτέραρχος |
| Equivalent Title |
Pilot Officer Pilot Officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below Flying Officer...
or 2nd Lieutenant |
Flying Officer Flying Officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
or 1st Lieutenant |
Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above Flying Officer and immediately below Squadron Leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "Lieutenant"...
or CaptainThe army rank of Captain is an officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically the commander, or second in command, of a company or squadron...
|
Squadron Leader Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
or MajorIn many European languages, the term Major is a military rank, implying seniority at one of usually various levels of rank. For example:*"General-Major" or "Major-General", denoting a senior ranking general officer....
|
Wing Commander Wing Commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above Squadron Leader and immediately below Group Captain...
or Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
|
Group Captain Group Captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above Wing Commander and immediately below Air Commodore...
or ColonelColonel is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country in the world. It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
|
Air Commodore Air Commodore is an air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
or Brigadier GeneralBrigadier General is the lowest ranking General Officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of Colonel and Major General.The rank can be traced back to the militaries of Europe where a brigadier general, or simply a brigadier, would command a brigade in the field...
|
Air Vice-Marshal Air Vice-Marshal is an air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries...
or Major GeneralMajor General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of Sergeant Major General. A Major General is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of Lieutenant General and senior to the ranks of Brigadier and Brigadier General...
|
Air Marshal Air Marshal is a 3 star air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries...
or Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
|
Air Chief Marshal Air Chief Marshal is a senior air officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
or GeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank. The term or equivalent is used by nearly every country in the world. General can be used as a generic term for all grades of general officer, or it can specifically refer to a single rank that is simply called general.-All general officer...
|
Aircraft Inventory
| Aircraft |
Origin |
Type |
Versions |
In service |
Notes |
| Fighter |
| Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, daytime Visual Flight Rules fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft...
|
|
Multirole Fighter |
F-16 C/D Block 30
F-16 C/D Block 50
F-16 C/D Block 52+
Total |
-
-
-
131 |
30 new Block 52+ under delivery in May 2009 and completed by the end of 2009. They will replace the A-7E and TA-7C Corsair II. |
| Dassault Mirage 2000 |
|
Multirole Fighter |
M2000-5 Mk2
M2000 EGM
M2000 BGM
Total |
17
26
3
46 |
10 M2000 EGM/BGM were upgraded with radar capabilities and weapons systems to M2000-5 Mk2. |
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. Proving highly adaptable, it became a major part of the air wings of the United States...
|
|
Tactical Fighter
Reconnaissance |
F-4E PI2000
RF-4E
Total |
-
-
53 |
36 HAF F-4E Phantoms have been upgraded with advanced electronics under the program "Peace Icarus 2000". |
A-7 Corsair IIThe Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War. The Corsair was later adopted by the United States Air Force, to include the Air National Guard, to...
|
|
Ground Attack |
A-7E/H
TA-7C
Total |
49 (2 stored)
13
64 |
HAF is looking for a 4th Generation replacement. The A-7E and TA-7C will be replaced by the F-16 C/D Block 52+. |
| Support |
Lockheed C-130B/H HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. Capable of takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft...
|
|
Transport |
C-130B/H
C-130H (EW)
Total |
13
2
15 |
Fleet undergoing an Avionics Upgrade (AUP) by SPAR Aerospace SPAR Aerospace, a Canadian aerospace company, led the development of the Canadarm for the NASA Space shuttle program.-History:The Edmonton based company L-3 Communications/SPAR Aerospace Ltd. was formed by the merger of de Havilland Canada’s Special Products division and Avro Canada's Applied...
and HAIThe Hellenic Aerospace Industry is the leading aerospace company of Greece. The company has undertaken over the years a great deal of subcontracting work with major International Aerospace companies and has accomplished many original developments in military electronics,...
|
| C-27J Spartan |
|
Transport |
C-27J |
12 |
Four aircraft equipped with IFRRS (In Flight Refuelling Receiver System). |
| Embraer ERJ-135ER The ERJ 145 is a family of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135, ERJ 140, and ERJ 145, as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group. Each jet in the series is...
|
|
VIP Transport |
EMB-135LR
EMB-135BJ LEGACY |
2 |
|
| EMB-145H AEW&C The Embraer R-99 and P-99 are military versions of the ERJ 145 civil regional jet. The R-99 series are equipped with Rolls-Royce AE 3007 turbofan engines, although they are modified to provide 20% more thrust than the civil version...
|
|
Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) |
EMB-145H AEW&C |
4 |
Equipped with the Ericsson Erieye The Erieye radar system, is an Airborne Early Warning and Control System developed by Saab Microwave Systems of Sweden. It is based on the Active Electronically Scanned Array . The Erieye is used on a variety of aircraft platforms, such as the Brazilian Embraer E-99 or EMB-145...
radar system. |
Gulfstream VThe Gulfstream V is a business jet aircraft produced by Gulfstream Aerospace. It is also used by the US military under the designation C-37A. The G500 and G550 are improved versions which are currently in production...
|
|
VIP Transport |
G500 |
1 |
|
Do-28The Dornier Do 28 Skyservant is a twin-engine STOL utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier Flugzeugbau GmbH. It served with the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger and other air forces around the world in the communications and utility role....
|
|
Transport |
- |
6 |
- |
Douglas C-47 Skytrain/DakotaThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
|
|
Transport |
C-47B |
1 |
Kept flyable for historical reasons. |
| Trainer |
| Cessna T-41 Mescalero The T-41 Mescalero is a military version of the popular Cessna 172 used by the United States Air Force and the United States Army as a pilot training aircraft.-Design and development:...
|
|
Trainer |
T-41D |
19 |
Military version of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. |
| Beechcraft T-6 Texan II The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company . It is used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training and by the United States Navy for Primary and Intermediate Joint Naval Flight Officer and Air Force Navigator / Weapon...
|
|
Trainer |
T-6A
T-6A NTA
Total |
25
20
45 |
T-6A NTA has the capability to carry rocket pods, gun pods, external fuel tanks and bombs (similar to T-6B). |
Rockwell T-2 BuckeyeThe North American T-2 Buckeye was the United States Navy's intermediate training aircraft, intended to introduce Student Naval Aviators to jets. It entered initial service in 1959, and had been replaced by the T-45 Goshawk by 2008.-Design and development:...
|
|
Trainer |
T-2C
T-2E
Total |
-
-
41 |
To be replaced by new trainers. |
| Naval Support |
Lockheed P-3B OrionThe Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft used by numerous navies and air forces around the world, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare.-Development:...
|
|
Maritime Patrol |
P-3B |
6 |
|
| Fire-fighting |
| Canadair CL-215 The Canadair CL-215 was the first model in a series of firefighting flying boat amphibious aircraft built by Canadair and later Bombardier. The CL-215 is a twin-engine, high-wing aircraft designed to operate well at low speed and in gust-loading circumstances, as are found over forest fires...
|
|
Firefighting & SAR |
CL-215 |
8 |
|
| Bombardier 415 |
|
Firefighting & SAR |
415GR
415MP
Total |
8
2
10 |
The CL-415MP model can be used for multi-role based on their configuration. |
PZL M18B "Dromader"The PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader is a single engine agricultural aircraft that is manufactured by PZL-Mielec in Poland. The aircraft is used mainly as a cropduster or firefighting machine.-Development:...
|
|
Firefighting |
M-18
M-18BS
Total |
20
3
23 |
|
Grumman G-164A Ag CatThe Grumman G-164 Ag Cat is a single-engine biplane agricultural aircraft, developed by Grumman in the 1950s.-Development:The Ag Cat design has been in almost continual production since 1957...
|
|
Crop Dusting |
G-164A |
12 |
|
| Helicopters |
| Agusta A109 Hirundo |
|
MEDEVAC Helicopter |
A109 |
3 |
|
| Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma |
|
CSAR & SAR Helicopter |
AS 332C1 |
10 |
The HAF will buy an additional 15 Super Puma. |
Agusta-Bell AB205The Bell 204 and 205 are the civil versions of the ubiquitous UH-1 Iroquois single-engine military helicopters. They are type-certificated in the transport category and are used in a wide variety of applications, including crop dusting, cargo lifting, and one of its most common uses, aerial...
|
|
Multiple-role helicopter |
AB205A |
12 |
To be replaced by fifteen new SAR helicopters. Also to replace the AB 212. |
Agusta-Bell AB212The Bell 212 Twin Huey is a two-bladed, twin-engined, medium helicopter that first flew in 1968. Originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, the 212 is marketed to civilian operators and has a fifteen-seat configuration, with one pilot and fourteen passengers...
|
|
Multiple-role helicopter |
AB212 |
5 |
|
Bell 47The Bell 47 is a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. Based on the third Model 30 prototype, Bell's first helicopter designed by Arthur M. Young, the Bell 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946...
G |
|
Crop Dusting |
47G |
7 |
|
| Other |
| EAB Pegasus II The Pegasus is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle , a product of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry . Its development started in 1979 in collaboration with KETA and its first flight was made in 1982...
|
|
Reconnaissance (RUAV) |
E1-79 |
5 |
Twelve more under construction by the State Aircraft Factory (KEA). |
NAMC YS-11The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954: the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.To date, the YS-11 is the...
|
|
Calibration |
YS-11 |
1 |
|
| Total |
|
- |
|
Retired & Historical Aircraft
- Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter, used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it was...
- Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. Some production of the Hurricane was carried out in Canada by the Canada Car and Foundry Co Ltd....
- Henschel Hs 126
The Henschel Hs 126 was a German two-seat reconnaissance and observation aircraft of World War II that was derived from the Henschel Hs 122. The pilot was seated in a protected cockpit under the parasol wing and the gunner in an open rear cockpit. The prototype aircraft frame was that of a Hs 122A...
- Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries through the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used into the 1950s both as a front line fighter and in secondary roles...
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
- Grumman HU-16 Albatros
The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large twin-radial engine amphibious flying boat. Originally designated SA-16, it was renamed HU-16 in 1962.-Design and development:...
- Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service. Despite its size, the SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced...
- Cessna T-37
- Nord Noratlas
The Nord Noratlas was a 1950s French military transport aircraft intended to replace the older types in service at the end of World War II. Several hundred were produced in a run lasting over a decade, finding a wide variety of uses.-Development:...
- Dassault Mirage F1
The Dassault Mirage F1 is a French single-seat air-superiority fighter and attack aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation as a successor of the Mirage III family. The Mirage F1 entered service in the French Air Force in the early seventies...
CG
- Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...
- North American F-86 Sabre
The North American Aviation F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. The Sabre is best known for its Korean War role where it was pitted against the Soviet MiG-15 and obtained UN air superiority...
- Republic F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American-built turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Force proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
- Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
- Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was a US interceptor aircraft built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s. Entering service in 1956, its main purpose was to intercept invading Soviet bomber fleets....
- Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was an American single-engined, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1958 until 1967. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it continued in service with Air National Guard units until it was phased out...
- Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter
Weapons Inventory
- AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM: 150
- AIM-120B AMRAAM: 240
- AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
-M: 165
- AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
-L/I1: 300
- AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
-L/I: 400
- AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. Variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades...
-P4 (upgraded P3 and J-Sidewinder) : 1,000
- MBDA MICA
The MBDA MICA is an anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire-and-forget short and medium-range missile system. It is intended for use both by air platforms as individual missiles as well as ground units and ships, which can be equipped with the rapid fire MICA Vertical Launch System...
: 300
- IRIS-T
IRIS-T is a German-led program to develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder...
: 350
- R550 Magic
The R550 Magic is a short-range missile designed in 1968 by French company Matra to compete with the American AIM-9 Sidewinder. On 11 January 1972, a Gloster Meteor of the centre for in-flight trials fired the R550 Magic and shot down a Nord CT20 target drone .Mass-produced from 1976, the Magic was...
-2 : 303
- Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, and airplanes. Several hundred were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:The missile's name was given by M...
AM-39 Block 2 : 39
- SCALP EG : 90
- AFDS: 70
- AGM-65G2 : 200
- AGM-65A/B : 200+ (?)
- AGM-88 HARM
The AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile is a tactical, air-to-surface missile designed to home in on electronic transmissions coming from surface-to-air radar systems. It was originally developed by Texas Instruments as a replacement for the AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard ARM system...
B Block IIIA: 84
- AGM-154C JSOW: 40 on order
- GBU-8B HOBOS: 96
- GBU-12 & GBU-16 Paveway II: 1,162
- GBU-24 Paveway III :200
Navigation & Targeting Pods
- DB-110: 2
- LANTIRN
Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or LANTIRN, is a system for use on the USAF's premier fighter aircraft -- the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon...
-AWNP (F-16 Block 50D & 52+): 23
- LANTIRN
Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or LANTIRN, is a system for use on the USAF's premier fighter aircraft -- the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon...
-TP (F-16 Block 50D & 52+): 23
- F-4E UAP Targeting Pods: 15
- A-7E Night Navigation Pods: ?
Anti-aircraft Systems
- Patriot PAC III
The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company of the United States. The Patriot System replaced the Nike Hercules system as the U.S. Army's primary High to Medium...
AA missile system: 6 Batterries / 36 launchers / 198 missiles
- S-300 PMU1 AA missile system: 2 Batteries / 8 launchers / 96 missiles
- SKYGUARD/VELOS AA system: 20 launchers / 280 missiles / 24 Oerlikon-35 Guns
- Crotale NG/GR
The Crotale EDIR is an all-weather short-range anti-air missile, which can be used to intercept low-flight anti-ship missiles and aircraft...
AA missile system: 9 launchers
- TOR M1 AA missile system: 4 launchers
- Stinger
The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
portable AA missile: unknown number of launchers / 300 missiles
- Artemis 30
The Artemis 30 is an anti-aircraft gun system originally developed in 1982 and produced by the Hellenic Arms Industry for use by the Greek armed forces in the Aegean sea...
30 mm AA guns: 38
- Rheinmetall 202 Mk20
Rheinmetall Zwillingsflak twin-gun anti-aircraft system under development since 1968, designed to match the mission of the low-level air defence units of the German Air Force, i.e...
: 326
Camo
The camo extensively used by the Hellenic Air Force is the "Aegean Ghost" theme (
Φάντασμα του Αιγαίου).
Accidents and incidents
The worst accident in the history of the Hellenic Air Force occurred on 5 February 1991 when Lockheed
C-130H HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. Capable of takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft...
748 crashed into
Mount OthrysMount Othrys is a mountain in Central Greece in the northeastern part of Fthiotis and southern part of Magnesia. The mountaintop is at the prefectural and the regional border at 1,728 m. Much of the area is unpopulated in the northern part and the southwestern part...
during the landing approach to
Nea AnchialosNea Anchialos is a town of Magnesia prefecture. It is situated southwest of Volos and north of Almyros. It is placed on the national highway Athens-Lamia-Volos. On the east there is Pagassitikos bay and west-northwest it is surrounded by picturesque little hills...
. Sixty-three people were reported killed.
Further reading
- "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 15 January 2007
- The Library of Congress Country Studies, CIA World Factbook
- http://www.photius.com/countries/greece/national_security/greece_national_security_the_hellenic_air_for~220.html
- Aircraft inventory (Greek)
External links