Hellenic Air Force - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated to HAF is the air force

Air force

An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...

of Greece

Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army

Hellenic Army

The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...

and the Hellenic Navy

Hellenic Navy

The 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 monarchy

Kingdom of Greece

The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...

between 1935–1973 the force was known as the Royal Hellenic Air Force (Greek: , Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía). The motto of the Hellenic Air Force is the ancient Greek

Ancient Greek

Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...

phrase (Aièn Hypsikrateîn), "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 Forces

Military of Greece

The 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 Defense....

Foundation

In 1911, the Greek Government appointed French specialists to form the Hellenic Aviation Service. Six Greek officers were sent to France for training, while the first four "Farman" type aircraft were ordered.All of the six graduated from the Farman school in Étampes near Paris, but only four served subsequently in aviation. The first civilian Greek aviator who was given military rank was Emmanuel Argyropoulos, who flew in a Nieuport

Nieuport

Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft 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 Kamberos

Dimitrios Kamberos

Dimitrios 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 seaplane

Seaplane

A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...

, setting a new world average speed record at 110 km/h (68 mph) and the foundations of Naval Aviation. During September of the same year, the Greek Army fielded its first squadron, the "Aviators Company" (Λόχος Αεροπόρων).

Balkan Wars and aftermath

On October 5, 1912, Kamberos flew the first combat mission, a reconnaissance

Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....

flight over Thessaly

Thessaly

Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....

.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 Dardanelles

Dardanelles

The 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 Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...

. Aided by the destroyer Velos

Greek destroyer Velos

Velos 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 Lieutenant

Lieutenant

A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...

Michael Moutoussis

Michael Moutoussis was one of the first military aviators in the Greek Armed Forces. During the Balkan Wars he performed together with Aristeidis Moraitinis the first naval air co-operation mission in history.-Early career:...

and Ensign

Ensign (rank)

Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces 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....

Aristeidis Moraitinis

Aristeidis Moraitinis (aviator)

Aristeidis Moraitinis D.S.O. was a pioneer Greek military aviator of the early 20th century. During the Balkan Wars he performed together with Michael Moutoussis the first naval air mission in history, while in the following World War I, he became Greece's only ace with nine aerial victories in...

flew the Maurice Farman

Maurice Farman

Maurice Alain Farman was a French Grand Prix motor racing champion, an aviator, and an aircraft manufacturer and designer.-Biography:...

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.

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. 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 I and the Asia Minor Campaign, equipped by the Allies

Allies of World War I

The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...

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. The Hellenic Army Air Service and Hellenic Naval Air Service

Hellenic Naval Air Service

The Hellenic Naval Air Service or ΝΑΥ was the air arm of the Hellenic Navy from 1915 to 1930.The first aviation units in the Greek Armed Forces were formed in June 1912. In the following Balkan Wars, the Hellenic Navy was the first in military history to use aircraft to track down and bomb the...

were amalgamated into a single service, the Hellenic Air Force. In 1931 the Hellenic Air Force Academy

Hellenic 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. It was founded in 1919 as the Military Academy of Aviation and renamed in 1967 as the Icarus School in reference...

, the Scholi Ikaron (Σχολή Ικάρων), was founded.

In 1939, an order for 24 Marcel Bloch MB.151

Bloch MB.150

|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Belcarz, Bartłomiej. Morane MS 406C1, Caudron Cyclone CR 714C1, Bloch MB 151/152 , Sandomierz, Poland: Stratus, 2004. ISBN 83-89450-21-6. About the use of the MB.151/152 by Polish Pilots of the Armée de l'Air.* Breffort, Dominique and André Jouineau...

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, although being severely outnumbered, counting only 79 aircraft against the 380 fighters and bombers available to the Italian Regia Aeronautica

Regia Aeronautica

The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...

, RHAF managed to successfully resist the Italian invasion

Greco-Italian War

The 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. On November 2, 1940, a Breguet 19

Breguet 19

The Breguet 19 was a light bomber and reconnaissance plane, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French Breguet company and produced from 1924.-Development:...

intercepted the Italian Mountaineers Division "Julia" while it was penetrating Pindos mountain

Mountain

Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...

range and moving on to occupy Metsovo

Metsovo

Metsovo is a town in Epirus on the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the north and Meteora to the south. The largest centre of Vlach life in Greece, Metsovo is bypassed by GR-6 and also by Egnatia Odos Motorway....

. At the same day, Second Lieutanand Marinos Mitralexis

Marinos Mitralexis

Marinos Mitralexis was a Greek Air Force pilot during World War II. He became legendary when he managed to bring down an enemy bomber by ramming its tail, on November 2, 1940.-Career:...

, being out of ammunition, aimed the nose of his PZL P.24

PZL P.24

|-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Axworthy, Mark. Third Axis, Fourth Ally. London: Arms and Armour, 1995. ISBN 1-85409-267-7.* Bernád, Dénes. Rumanian Air Force: The Prime Decade 1938-1947. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc, 1999. ISBN 0-89747-402-3.* Cynk, Jerzy B. Polish...

right into an enemy Savoia-Marchetti SM.79

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79

The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero was a three-engined Italian medium bomber with a wood and metal structure. Originally designed as a fast passenger aircraft, this low-wing monoplane, in the years 1937–39, set 26 world records that qualified it for some time as the fastest medium bomber in the...

tail, smashing the rudder and sending the bomber out of control. On March 1941 the Italian invasion was confronted successfully. During the Greco-Italian War

Greco-Italian War

The 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...

the Hellenic Air Force shot down 64 enemy aircraft (confirmed) and claimed another 24. In April 1941 the German Wehrmacht

Wehrmacht

The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...

invaded Greece to assist her Italian allies. The Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe 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 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....

destroyed almost the entire Greek Air force; some aircraft managed to escape in the Middle East. The top ace of Hellenic Air Force was Andreas Antoniou with 5.5 victories.

Five Avro Anson

Avro Anson

The Avro Anson is a British twin-engine, multi-role aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and numerous other air forces prior to, during, and after the Second World War. Named for British Admiral George Anson, it was originally designed for maritime reconnaissance, but was...

, one Dornier Do 22

Dornier Do 22

|-See also:-References:*Donald, David The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester,UK:Blitz Editions. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.*Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Six Floatplanes. London:Macdonald, 1962....

and three Avro 626 escaped. Hellenic aviation was rebuilt under the Air Force Ministry based in Cairo

Cairo

Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...

. Three Hellenic squadrons were built, which were operating under the command of the British RAF. These squadrons were the 13th Light Bombing Squadron, with Avro Anson

Avro Anson

s, Bristol Blenheim

Bristol Blenheim

The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...

s and Martin Baltimore

Martin Baltimore

The Martin 187 Baltimore was a two-engined light attack bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company in the United States, originally ordered by the French in May 1940 as a follow-up to the earlier Martin Maryland, then in service in France. With the fall of France, the production series was...

s, and the 335 and 336

336th Bomber Squadron (HAF)

The 336th Bomber Squadron , callsign "Olympus", is the second oldest squadron in service with the Hellenic Air Force, forming part of the 116th Combat Wing...

Fighting Squadrons, with Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane

The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...

I and IIs and Spitfire V types. The Hellenic Squadrons in the Middle East took over a variety of missions, such as convoy

Convoy

A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...

patrols, antisubmarine search, offensive patrols, reconnaissance, attacks and interceptions of enemy aircraft. In summer 1943 the Greek Squadrons participated in the attack against the German Wehrmacht on the island of Crete

Crete

Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...

. From May to November 1944 the Greek squadrons continued in Italy. Greek pilots operated with great success. Two of those pilots were Pilot Officer G. Tsotsos and Master Sergeant D. Soufrillas flying Spitfires credited with shooting down German Junkers 88 bombers. Seventy men were lost.

During World War II Greek pilots who were flying with the RAF achieved many victories. Wing Commander John Agorastos Plagis shot down 17 enemy aircraft over Malta and Western Europe. Flying Lieutenant Vasilios Michael Vassiliadis was credited with 11.5 enemy aircraft over Western Europe before he was killed in action on 15 March 1945 over Germany. Steve Pisanos

Steve Pisanos

Steve Pisanos born in Greece as Spiros Pisanos is a USAF Colonel who served successfully as a fighter pilot with the British Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force 4th Fighter Group in World War II, having been credited with 10 victories and thus considered an ace...

, an immigrant to USA in 1938, joined an Eagle Squadron

Eagle squadron

The Eagle Squadrons were 3 fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force formed during World War II with volunteer pilots from the United States...

of American volunteers in the RAF and fought over Western Europe. He later joined the USAF and took US citizenship to continue fighting with the same squadron, now part of the USAF 4th FG. He achieved 10 victories with USAF by 1944.

After Greece's liberation in 1944, RHAF returned home and subsequently played a decisive role in the Greek Civil War

Greek Civil War

The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and 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, re-equipped with Spitfire Mk IX , Spitfire Mk XVI fighters and Curtiss Helldiver

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...

bombers.

Post-war developments

After the end of the Greek Civil War

Greek Civil War

, in November 1950, in order to assist the United Nations, Greece sent to South Korea seven C-47 Dakota aircraft of the 13th Transport Aircraft Squadron. The Greek aircraft operated in Korea until May 1955. Greek pilots flew thousands of war missions such as air evacuations, transports of personnel, prisoners of war and every kind of material, drops of supplies and ammunition and collection of information.

In 1952 Greece was admitted to NATO and the Air Force was rebuilt and organized according to NATO standards, with US assistance. New aircraft, including jets, were introduced.

The first jet fighter interceptor design to be flown by the Hellenic Air Force was the F-84G Thunderjet, soon to be replaced by Canadair Sabre 2, about 100 examples being supplied during 1954 and 1955 after upgrading in the United Kingdom following service with the Royal Canadian Air Force

Royal Canadian Air Force

The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...

. Lockheed T-33s were delivered to training units and some RT-33's for reconnaissance missions.

The Republic 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 Hellenic Air Force was further modernized with deliveries of the Dassault Mirage F1CG fleet, A-7H/TA-7H Corsair II

A-7 Corsair II

The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...

and the first batch of F-4E Phantom II

F-4 Phantom II

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 United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...

s, upgraded versions of which still serve today.

Also in 1993, USAF delivered to Hellenic Air Force 62 A-7E/TA-7C

A-7 Corsair II

, increasing the air-to-ground capability of the HAF. Some of the A-7s were still in service with the Hellenic Air Force, pending deliveries of 4.5 generation fighters.

Modernization

Until the late 1980s the Air Force deployed Nike-Hercules Missiles armed with U.S. nuclear warheads. As a result of Greco-Turkish tensions

Greco-Turkish relations

The relations between the Greek and the Turkish states 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 Cyprus

Cyprus

Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...

, 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 March 1985 the Greek government announced the purchase of 36 F-16C Block 30 and 4 F-16D Block 30 in a program called Peace Xenia I. In the same month Greece ordered 36 single-seat Mirage 2000EG and 4 two-seat Mirage 2000BG, as part of the "Talos" modernization program.

In 1989 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 in Tanagra

Tanagra

Tanagra is a town and a municipality north of Athens in Boeotia, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Schimatari. It is not far from Thebes, and it was noted in antiquity for the figurines named after it...

airforce base and equipped the 331 and 332 squadrons. In January 1989 the first F-16C/D Block 30 arrived in 111 combat wing in Nea Anchialos

Nea Anchialos

Nea Anchialos is a town and a former municipality in Magnesia, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Volos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is situated southwest of Volos and north of Almyros. It is placed on the national highway...

airforce base and were allocated to the 330 "Thunder

Thunder

Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Depending on the nature of the lightning and distance of the listener, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble . The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within...

" and 346 "Jason

Jason

Jason was a late ancient Greek mythological hero from the late 10th Century BC, famous as the leader of the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcus...

" interceptor squadrons in Larissa

Larissa

Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...

airforce base.

On March 29, 1991, the RF-84F were retired from service after 34 years and 7 months of operational life. In November 1992 more RF-4Es were delivered to the 348 "Eyes"

Human eye

The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...

Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.

In 1993 Peace Xenia II program began. Greece ordered 32 F-16C and 8 F-16s, Block 50 version. The first Block 50 was delivered on July 25, 1997. These aircraft, equipped with the LANTIRN

LANTIRN

Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or LANTIRN, is a combined navigation and targeting pod 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 AIM-120 AMRAAM

AIM-120 AMRAAM

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM , is a modern beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. Designed with the same form-factor as the previous generation of semi-active guided Sparrow missiles, it is a fire-and-forget...

and AGM-88 HARM

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...

missiles, were allocated to the 341 "Aces"

Ace

An ace is a playing card. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the case of the Ace of Spades...

and 347 "Perseus

Perseus

Perseus ,Perseos and Perseas are not used in English. the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty of Danaans there, was the first of the mythic heroes of Greek mythology whose exploits in defeating various archaic monsters provided the founding myths of the Twelve Olympians...

" squadrons in Nea Anchialos

Nea Anchialos

airforce base.

The basic mission of 341 "Aces"

Ace

An ace is a playing card. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the case of the Ace of Spades...

squadron is Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses

SEAD

Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses , also known as "Wild Weasel" and "Iron Hand" operations in the United States, are military actions to suppress enemy surface-based air defenses , primarily in the first hours of an attack.One fourth of American combat sorties in recent conflicts have been SEAD...

(SEAD). The role of 347 "Perseus

Perseus

" squadron is air-to-ground missions.

Entering the 21st century

Greece participated in NATO "nuclear weapons sharing" until 2001, using A-7 Corsair II

A-7 Corsair II

s to deploy tactical B61

B61 nuclear bomb

The B61 nuclear bomb is the primary thermonuclear weapon in the U.S. Enduring Stockpile following the end of the Cold War. It is an intermediate yield strategic and tactical nuclear weapon featuring a two-stage radiation implosion design....

nuclear warheads from Araxos

Araxos

Araxos , Latin form: Araxus is a village located in the municipal unit of Larissos in the northwestern part of Achaea, Greece. 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...

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 1998 Greece decided, in cooperation with the German Aerospace Industry (DASA) and Hellenic Aerospace Industry(EAB)

Hellenic Aerospace Industry

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,...

, to upgrade 39 F-4E Phantom IIs. After many problems, the first aircraft were delivered in Andravida

Andravida

Andravída is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is about 4,300. Distance from Patras is around 63 km SW and 33 km NW of...

Air Base, in December 2002. This aircraft, which is called "Princess of Andravida" (s/n 72-01523), is unique because it doesn't have the M61 Vulcan

M61 Vulcan

The M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically or pneumatically driven, six-barreled, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon which fires 20 mm rounds at an extremely high rate. The M61 and its derivatives have been the principal cannon armament of United States military fixed-wing aircraft...

gun installed. The upgraded aircraft are equipped with a new radar

Radar

Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...

AN/APQ-65 YG similar to this of F/A-18 Hornet

F/A-18 Hornet

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...

, mission-control computer, Head Up Display, IFF

Identification friend or foe

In telecommunications, identification, friend or foe is an identification system designed for command and control. It is a system that enables military and national interrogation systems to identify aircraft, vehicles, or forces as friendly and to determine their bearing and range from the...

Interrogator, Multi Function Displays

Multi-function display

A Multi-function display is a small screen in an aircraft surrounded by multiple buttons that can be used to display information to the pilot in numerous configurable ways. Often an MFD will be used in concert with a Primary Flight Display. MFDs are part of the digital era of modern planes or...

and are capable of carrying a large variety of advanced air-to-air

Air-to-air missile

An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...

and air-to-ground missiles, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM

AIM-120 AMRAAM

(only the -B edition), the AIM-9M missile, the AFDS and all the family of the Paveway

Paveway

Paveway is a generic term for Laser Guided Bombs .Pave or PAVE is sometimes used as an acronym for precision avionics vectoring equipment; literally, electronics for controlling the speed and direction of aircraft...

(I, II and III) laser-guided bombs. These aircraft are called F-4E Peace Icarus 2000 (PI2000) or F-4E Phantom II AUP (Avionics Upgrade Program) and are operating with the 338 Squadron "Ares

Ares

Ares is the Greek god of war. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. In Greek literature, he often represents the physical or violent aspect of war, in contrast to the armored Athena, whose functions as a goddess of intelligence include military strategy and...

" and 339 Squadron "Ajax

Ajax (mythology)

Ajax or Aias was a mythological Greek hero, the son of Telamon and Periboea and king of Salamis. He plays an important role in Homer's Iliad and in the Epic Cycle, a series of epic poems about the Trojan War. To distinguish him from Ajax, son of Oileus , he is called "Telamonian Ajax," "Greater...

based in Andravida

Andravida

Air Base in multi-role missions. Recently, according to 338 Squadron "Ares" crews, the F-4E Phantom II PI2000(AUP) has been certified for use of GBU-27 Paveway III

GBU-27 Paveway III

The GBU-27 Paveway III is a laser-guided bomb with bunker buster capabilities. It is a GBU-24 Paveway III that has been redesigned to be used by the F-117A Nighthawk stealth ground attack aircraft.-Combat history:...

laser-guided bombs, making the aircraft an excellent and modern weapon platform for precision strikes.

Entering the 21st century, Greece decided to purchase a large number of fighter aircraft

Fighter aircraft

A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...

, to replace the non-upgraded F-4E Phantoms

F-4 Phantom II

, a number of A-7 Corsairs

A-7 Corsair II

, and the fleet of Mirage F1CGs.

In the year 2000 Greece ordered 60 F-16C/D Block 52+ and 15 Mirage 2000-5Mk.2. The order for the F-16s was about 50 single-seat of the C version and 10 two-seat of the D version. Also, Greece decided to upgrade 10 of its existing Mirage 2000EGs to Mirage 2000-5Mk.2 standards.

In September 2004, Greece started the Mirage 2000BG/EG fleet upgrade to the standard 2000-5 Mk2 and the project was undertaken by the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation

Dassault Aviation

Dassault Aviation is a French aircraft manufacturer of military, regional and business jets, a subsidiary of Dassault Group.It was founded in 1930 by Marcel Bloch as Société des Avions Marcel Bloch or "MB". After World War II, Marcel Bloch changed his name to Marcel Dassault, and the name of the...

and the EAB

Hellenic Aerospace Industry

. Fifteen new aircraft were delivered. The Mirage 2000-5Mk.2 has a new more powerful radar, improved Air To Ground capabilities including the SCALP EG Cruise Missile

Cruise missile

A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...

, new self-protection system, new Inertial Navigation System(INS)

Inertial navigation system

An inertial navigation system is a navigation aid that uses a computer, motion sensors and rotation sensors to continuously calculate via dead reckoning the position, orientation, and velocity of a moving object without the need for external references...

, a Glass Cockpit

Glass cockpit

A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features electronic instrument displays, typically large LCD screens, as opposed to the traditional style of analog dials and gauges...

and an air to air refueling capability.

In 2005, Greece was the first country worldwide to add the F-16 Block 52+ to its inventory. This advanced F-16 type is an improved version of the Block 50 featuring a more powerful radar, Conformal Fuel Tanks

Conformal fuel tank

Conformal fuel tanks are additional fuel tanks fitted closely to the profile of an aircraft which extend either the range or "time on station" of the aircraft, with a reduced aerodynamic penalty compared to external drop tanks....

for bigger Ferry Range

Range (aircraft)

The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft....

, advanced communications systems, upgraded engine, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and is capable of carying more advanced weapons, including the IRIS-T

IRIS-T

The IRIS-T is a German-led program to develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the venerable AIM-9 Sidewinder found in some of the NATO member countries...

Air To Air missile

Air-to-air missile

. Three squadrons are operating with this type of F-16s. These squadrons are the 337 Squadron "Ghost

Ghost

In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...

" in Larissa

Larissa

air base, 340 Squadron "Fox

Fox

Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...

and 343 Squadron "Star

Star

A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...

" in Souda

Souda

Souda is a town and former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chania, of which it is a municipal unit. It is an important ferry and naval port at the head of Souda Bay.Souda is 6.5 km to the east of...

air base.

In 2005, the Greek government ordered 30 more F-16C/D, 20 single seat and 10 double seat. These aircraft are called F-16C/D Block 52+ Advanced, but in Hellenic Air Force are known as F-16 Block52M (due to improved computing power for mission computer MMC). The differences between the normal Block 52+ and Block 52+ Advanced, are that the Advanced version has, LINK 16

Link 16

Link 16 is a military tactical data exchange network created and used by the United States and adopted by some of its Allies and by NATO. Its specification is part of the family of Tactical Data Links....

Communications System, more powerful Mission Control Computer, an extra Multi Function Display

Multi-function display

with a movable map navigation, advanced Debriefing System and the capability of carrying the RECCE Reconnaissance Pod. The first aircraft were delivered to Hellenic Air Force in May 2009 and they are flying with the 335 Squadron

335th Bomber Squadron (HAF)

The 335th 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, forming part of the 116th Combat Wing...

"Tiger

Tiger

The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...

" in Araxos

Araxos

air base.

Future plans

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 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. Candidates for 4.5th or 5th generation aircraft are the Eurofighter Typhoon

Eurofighter Typhoon

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...

, Dassault Rafale

Dassault Rafale

The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-engine delta-wing multi-role 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 the French Navy...

, F-35 Lightning II

F-35 Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability...

, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a twin-engine 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 air-to-air...

, MiG-35 and the Sukhoi Su-35

Sukhoi Su-35

The Sukhoi Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engined supermaneuverability multirole fighter. It is a derivative of the Su-27 'Flanker', and was initially known as the Su-27M. More than a dozen of these were built with some used by the Russian Knights aerobatic demonstration team...

.

Continued budgetary pressures and the weak political standing of the Greek government will probably lead to cost reduction measures. Reduction of Air Force size seems highly probable, looking for cost rationalization. This may involve:

Purchase of new fighters will have to be postponed or Greece will have to reduce the number of purchased planes and/or operate them along with other Air Force in order to reduce costs.

Recently Greece requested the U.S. Government to provide spare parts in support of its F-16, E/RF-4E, C-130H/B, C-27J, T-6A/C, and other aircraft with systems/subsystems of U.S. origin. The estimated cost of this help is $160 million.

Administrative organisation

The Hellenic Air Force is overseen by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, whose head is minister Panos Beglitis. More specifically, HAF is directly overseen by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.

Minister of National Defence: Panos Beglitis
- Chief of Air Force General Staff: Air Marshal Vasileios Klokozas
  - Chief of Tactical Air Force Command (HTAFC): Air Marshal Antonios Tsantirakis
  - Chief of Air Force Support Command (HAFSC): Air Vice Marshal Fotios Krevaikas
  - Chief of Air Force Training Command (HAFTC): Air Vice Marshal Antonios Pierros

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 Athens

Athens

Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...

.

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, Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...

, Tanagra

Tanagra

, north of Athens, Souda Bay

Souda Bay

Souda 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...

, Araxos

Araxos

in the northern Peloponnese, and Andravida

Andravida

. Other airports supporting military operations are located in the Aegean Islands of Karpathos

Karpathos

Karpathos is the second largest of the Greek Dodecanese islands, in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Together with the neighboring smaller Saria Island it forms the municipality Karpathos, which is part of the Karpathos peripheral unit. From its remote position Karpathos has preserved many...

, Santorini

Santorini

Santorini , officially Thira , is an island located in the southern Aegean Sea, about southeast from Greece's mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera...

(Thira), Rhodes

Rhodes

Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...

, Skyros

Skyros

Skyros is an island in Greece, the southernmost of the Sporades, an 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...

, and Lemnos

Lemnos

Lemnos is an island of Greece in the northern part of the Aegean Sea. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Lemnos peripheral unit, which is part of the North Aegean Periphery. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Myrina...

as well as in Kavala

Kavala

Kavala , is the second largest city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala peripheral unit. It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos...

, Heraklion

Heraklion

Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....

, 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
Hellenic 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. It was founded in 1919 as the Military Academy of Aviation and renamed in 1967 as the Icarus School in reference...

" and the "School of Advanced War Training", run by the Training Directorate of the Air Force Training Command. Nowadays the Greek air force is very modernized and is considered the 12th best airforce in the world. Greece is also planning on buying a lot of 4th generation air craft once it recovers from the current economic crisis.

Order of Battle

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
    Larissa
    Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
    
    AB
    - 337 All Weather Squadron "Ghost
      Ghost
      In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
      
      " – (F-16C/D Block 52+)
    - 348 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron "Eyes"
      Human eye
      The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
      
      – (RF-4E Phantom II)
  - 111th Combat Wing, Nea Anchialos
    Nea Anchialos
    Nea Anchialos is a town and a former municipality in Magnesia, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Volos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is situated southwest of Volos and north of Almyros. It is placed on the national highway...
    
    AB
    - 330 Fighter Interception Squadron "Thunder
      Thunder
      Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Depending on the nature of the lightning and distance of the listener, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble . The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within...
      
      " – (F-16C/D Block 30)
    - 341 Fighter-Bomber Squadron "Aces"
      Ace
      An ace is a playing card. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the case of the Ace of Spades...
      
      – (F-16C/D Block 50)
    - 347 Fighter-Bomber and Interception Squadron "Perseus
      Perseus
      Perseus ,Perseos and Perseas are not used in English. the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty of Danaans there, was the first of the mythic heroes of Greek mythology whose exploits in defeating various archaic monsters provided the founding myths of the Twelve Olympians...
      
      " – (F-16C/D Block 50)
  - 114th Combat Wing, Tanagra
    Tanagra
    Tanagra is a town and a municipality north of Athens in Boeotia, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Schimatari. It is not far from Thebes, and it was noted in antiquity for the figurines named after it...
    
    AB
    - 331st Fighter Interception Squadron "Theseus
      Theseus
      For other uses, see Theseus Theseus was the mythical founder-king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aethra had slept with in one night. Theseus was a founder-hero, like Perseus, Cadmus, or Heracles, all of whom battled and overcame foes that were...
      
      " – (Mirage 2000-5 Mk2)
    - 332nd Fighter Interception Squadron "Falcon
      Falcon
      A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
      
      " – (Mirage 2000BGM/EGM3)
  - 115th Combat Wing, Souda Bay
    Souda
    Souda is a town and former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chania, of which it is a municipal unit. It is an important ferry and naval port at the head of Souda Bay.Souda is 6.5 km to the east of...
    
    , Crete
    - 340th Fighter-Bomber Squadron "Fox
      Fox
      Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
      
      " – (F-16C/D Block 52+)
    - 343rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron "Star
      Star
      A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
      
      " – (F-16C/D Block 52+)
  - 116th Combat Wing, Araxos
    Araxos
    Araxos , Latin form: Araxus is a village located in the municipal unit of Larissos in the northwestern part of Achaea, Greece. 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...
    
    AB
    - 335th Fighter Squadron
      335th Bomber Squadron (HAF)
      The 335th 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, forming part of the 116th Combat Wing...
      
      "Tiger
      Tiger
      The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
      
      " – (F-16C/D Block 52+ Advanced)
    - 336th Bomber Squadron
      336th Bomber Squadron (HAF)
      The 336th Bomber Squadron , callsign "Olympus", is the second oldest squadron in service with the Hellenic Air Force, forming part of the 116th Combat Wing...
      
      "Olympus
      Mount Olympus
      Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 kilometres away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres...
      
      " – (A-7E/TA-7C)
  - 117th Combat Wing, Andravida
    Andravida
    Andravída is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is about 4,300. Distance from Patras is around 63 km SW and 33 km NW of...
    
    AB
    - 338 Fighter-Bomber Squadron "Ares
      Ares
      Ares is the Greek god of war. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. In Greek literature, he often represents the physical or violent aspect of war, in contrast to the armored Athena, whose functions as a goddess of intelligence include military strategy and...
      
      " – (F-4E PI2000 Phantom II)
    - 339 Interception Squadron "Ajax"
      Ajax (mythology)
      Ajax or Aias was a mythological Greek hero, the son of Telamon and Periboea and king of Salamis. He plays an important role in Homer's Iliad and in the Epic Cycle, a series of epic poems about the Trojan War. To distinguish him from Ajax, son of Oileus , he is called "Telamonian Ajax," "Greater...
      
      – (F-4E PI2000 Phantom II)
- Radars
  - 1st Area Control Centre – Hortiatis, call sign "Topsy"
  - 2nd Area Control Centre – Parnitha
    Parnitha
    Mount Parnitha is a densely forested mountain range north of Athens, the highest on the peninsula of Attica, with an elevation of 1,413 m and a summit known as Karavola...
    
    , call sign "Mambo"
  - 3rd Area Control Centre – Ziros, call sign "Kronos"
- Combat Groups
  - 126 CG & 130 CG – Heraklion
    Heraklion
    Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
    
    & Limnos
  - 131 CG & 132 CG – Preveza
    Preveza
    Preveza is a town in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece, located at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. It is the capital of the regional unit of Preveza, which is part of the region of Epirus. An immersed tunnel, completed in 2002 which runs between Preveza and Actium, connects the town...
    
    & Agrinio
    Agrinio
    Agrinion is the largest city and municipality of the Aetolia-Acarnania peripheral unit of Greece, with 96,321 inhabitants. It is the economical center of Aetolia-Acarnania, although its capital is the town of Mesolonghi. The settlement dates back to ancient times...
  - 133 CG & 134 CG – Kastelli & Santorini
    Santorini
    Santorini , officially Thira , is an island located in the southern Aegean Sea, about southeast from Greece's mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera...
  - 135 CG & 138 CG – Skyros
    Skyros
    Skyros is an island in Greece, the southernmost of the Sporades, an 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...
    
    & Tymbaki
- 350 Guided Missiles Wing, A/B Sedes, Thessaloniki
  - 21st and 22nd GMS – Keratea
    Keratea
    Keratea is a town in East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lavreotiki, of which it is a municipal unit.Keratea is linked with a highway to Glyka Nera and Sounio...
    
    & Skyros
    Skyros
    Skyros is an island in Greece, the southernmost of the Sporades, an 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...
    
    – (MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3)
  - 23rd and 24th GMS – Thessaloniki
    Thessaloniki
    Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
    
    & Tymbaki – (MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3)
  - 25th and 26th GMS – Crete
    Crete
    Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
    
    – (S-300 PMU1, Crotale NG/GR & TOR M1)
  - Maintenance Squadron
- Special Units
  - 380 AEW&C Squadron "Uranus" – Elefsis – (Embraer E-145H Erieye)

Air Force Support Command
- 112th Combat Wing, Elefsis AB
  - 31 CSAR/Special Operations Squadron
  - 353 Maritime Cooperation Squadron "Trident" – (P-3A Orion)
  - 352 VIP/Transport Squadron "Cosmos" – (Embraer ERJ-135ER & Gulfstream V)
  - Medical Emergency Helicopter Unit - (Agusta A-109E Power)
  - Tactical Transport Squadrons
    - 354 TTS "Pegasus" – (C-27J Spartan)
    - 355 TTS/CSAR "Hephestus" – (Bombardier CL-215)
    - 356 TTS "Hercules" – (C-130B/H Hercules)
  - Search & Rescue Squadrons
    - 358 Transport/SARS "Phaethon" – (AB 204/205 & AB 212 helicopters)
    - 384 CSAR/SARS "Puma" – (AS-332 Super Puma helicopters)
- 113th Combat Wing, Thessaloniki
  Thessaloniki
  Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
  
  AB
  - 383 Air Fire Fighting/CSAR Squadron "Proteus" – (Bombardier CL-415)
- 129 Support Wing, Thessaloniki
  Thessaloniki
  Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
  
  AB
  - Transport Squadron
  - Supply Squadron
- 206 Air Force Infrastructure Wing
  - 201 Air Force Supply Depot
  - 204 Ammunition Supply Depot
  - Petroleum Distribution Command

Air Force Training Command
- Air Force Academy
  Hellenic 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. It was founded in 1919 as the Military Academy of Aviation and renamed in 1967 as the Icarus School in reference...
  
  , Dekelia AB
  - 360 Initial Training Squadron "Thales" – (T-41D Mescalero)
- 120 Air Training Wing, Kalamata
  Kalamata
  Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
  
  AB
  - 361 Air Training Squadron "Mystras" – (T-6A Texan II)
  - 362 Air Training Squadron "Nestor" – (T-2E/C Buckeye)
  - 363 Air Training Squadron "Danaos" – (T-2E/C Buckeye)
  - 364 Air Training Squadron "Pelops" – (T-6A Texan II)
- Sea Survival Training School
  - 123 Technical Training Wing, Dekelia AB
- Air Defence Staff Training Center
  - 124 Basic Training Wing, Tripoli
    Tripoli
    Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
    
    , Arkadia
    Arkadia
    Arkadia may refer to:* Arcadia, a region of Greece, also known as Arkadía* Arkadia , a shopping mall in Warsaw, Poland* Arkadia, Łowicz County in Łódź Voivodeship...
    - 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

Officer Grade Structure of the Hellenic Air Force
NATO Code	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1
Insignia
Title	Pterarchos	Antipterarchos	Ypopterarchos	Taxiarchos	Sminarchos	Antisminarchos	Episminagos	Sminagos	Yposminagos	Anthyposminagos
Greek	Πτέραρχος	Αντιπτέραρχος	Υποπτέραρχος	Ταξίαρχος	Σμήναρχος	Αντισμήναρχος	Επισμηναγός	Σμηναγός	Υποσμηναγός	Ανθυποσμηναγός
Equivalent Title	Air Chief Marshal Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force... or General General A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....	Air Marshal Air Marshal Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force... or Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant 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 Vice-Marshal Air Vice-Marshal Air vice-marshal is a two-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... or Major General Major General Major 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 Commodore Air Commodore Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force... or Brigadier General Brigadier General Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...	Group Captain 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 Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...	Wing Commander Wing Commander (rank) Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries... or Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some 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...	Squadron Leader 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 Major Major Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...	Flight Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant Flight 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 Captain	Flying Officer 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	Pilot Officer 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

NCO/Enlisted

NCO – Enlisted Grade Structure of the Hellenic Air Force
NATO Code	OR-9		OR-8			OR-7	OR-6		OR-5	OR-4	OR-3	OR-2	OR-1
Insignia													No insignia
Title	Archisminias	Archisminias EPOP	Episminias	Episminias EPOP	Efedros Episminias	Sminias	Sminias EPOP	Efedros Sminias	Yposminias			Sminitis EPOP	Sminitis
Greek	Αρχισμηνίας	Αρχισμηνίας ΕΠΟΠ	Επισμηνίας	Επισμηνίας ΕΠΟΠ	Έφεδρος Επισμηνίας	Σμηνίας	Σμηνίας ΕΠΟΠ	Έφεδρος Σμηνίας	Υποσμηνίας			Σμηνίτης ΕΠΟΠ	Σμηνίτης
Equivalent rank	Chief Master Sergeant		Master Sergeant			Sergeant	Sergeant	Airman 1st Class	Corporal			Airman	Airman

Equipment

As of 2010-2011, according to Hellenic Ministry of National Defence the HAF operates a total of 510+ aircraft.

Aircraft Inventory

! style="text-align:left; background:lightsteelblue; width:17%;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align:left; background:lightsteelblue; width:9%;"|Origin
! style="text-align:left; background:lightsteelblue; width:19%;"|Type
! style="text-align:left; background:lightsteelblue;"|Versions
! style="text-align:left; background:lightsteelblue;"|In service
! style="text-align:left; background:lightsteelblue;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Combat aircraft
|-
| Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon

F-16 Fighting Falcon

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...

United States USA || Multirole Fighter

|| F-16C

F-16D || 120

36 || 34C & 6D Block 30,32CJ & 8DJ block 50,57C & 29D(MISSIONIZED) 52+/52+ Advanced =156
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| Dassault Mirage 2000 ||

France France || Multirole Fighter || Mirage 2000EGM

Mirage 2000BGM

Mirage 2000-5 Mk.2 || 17

25 ||
|-
| McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II ||

United StatesUSA/

GreeceGreece || Tactical Fighter/Reconnaissance|| RF-4E Phantom II

F-4E PI-2000 AUP || 22

35 || F-4E Peace Icarus 2000 aircraft, AUP:Avionics Upgrade Program
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| LTV A-7 Corsair II ||

United States USA || Attack Aircraft || A-7E

TA-7C || 36

15 || 15 TA-7C With Air Refueling Pods (buddy-buddy)
|-
| || || || || 309 ||
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Airborne early warning &Maritime patrol aircraft
|-
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| EMB-145H AEW&C || || Airborne early warning (AEW) || || 4 ||
|-
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules ||

United States USA || Electronic Signals Intelligence (ELINT-SIGINT) || C-130H || 2 || of 15
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| Lockheed P-3 Orion ||

United States USA || Maritime patrol aircraft || P-3B || 6 || At least 2 in upgrade program
|----
| || || || || 12 ||
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport Aircraft
Military transport aircraft
Military transport aircraft are typically fixed and rotary wing cargo aircraft which are used to deliver troops, weapons and other military equipment by a variety of methods to any area of military operations around the surface of the planet, usually outside of the commercial flight routes in...

|-
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules ||

United States USA || Tactical Transport || C-130B

C-130H || 15 || Avionics Modernization Program in progres
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| Alenia C-27J Spartan

Alenia C-27J Spartan

The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a medium-sized military transport aircraft. The C-27J is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's G.222 , with the engines and systems of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules...

|| || Tactical Transport || C-27J || 8 || 4 on order with In-Flight refueling system
|-
| Embraer ERJ-135ER

Embraer ERJ 145 family

The Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series 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...

|| || VIP Transport-Medical Evacuation || || 2 ||
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| Gulfstream V

Gulfstream V

The 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...

United States USA || VIP Transport-Medical Evacuation || G500 || 1 || ||
|-
| || || || || 23 ||
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Trainer aircraft/Light Attack
|-
| Beechcraft T-6 Texan II

T-6 Texan II

The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engined turboprop aircraft built by the Raytheon Aircraft Company . Based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 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...

United States USA || Trainer || T-6A Texan II

T-6A NTA Texan II || 25

20 || 20 of them with light attack role
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| Rockwell T-2 Buckeye ||

United States USA || Trainer || T-2C

T-2E || 40 || With weapons capacity
|-
| || || || || 105 || With 20 T-41D Mascalero
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Firefighting/Light transports
Military transport aircraft
Military transport aircraft are typically fixed and rotary wing cargo aircraft which are used to deliver troops, weapons and other military equipment by a variety of methods to any area of military operations around the surface of the planet, usually outside of the commercial flight routes in...

|-
| Canadair CL-215

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...

Canada Canada || Firefighting & SAR - Light transport || CL-215GR || 13
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| Bombardier 415 ||

Canada Canada || Firefighting & SAR- Light tansport|| CL-415GR

CL-415MP|| 8 || The MP for maritime patrol/CSAR
|-
| PZL M18B "Dromader"

PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader

|-See also:-References:*Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5....

|| || Firefighting/observation || || 23 ||
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
|-
| || || || || 44 ||
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Helicopters
|-
| AgustaWestland AW109|| || MEDEVAC Helicopter || A109E Power || 3 ||
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma

Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma

The Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-size utility helicopter marketed for both civil and military use. Originally designed and built by Aérospatiale, it is an enlarged and re-engined version of the original Aérospatiale Puma...

France France|| CSAR & SAR Helicopter || AS 332C1 Super Puma || 12 ||
|-
| Agusta-Bell AB205

Bell 204/205

The 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
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| Agusta-Bell AB212 || || Multiple-role helicopter || AB212 || 4 ||
|-
| Bell 47

Bell 47

The 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...

United States USA || Crop Dusting/liaison || 47G || 7 ||
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| || || || || 38 ||
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Other
Other
The Other or Constitutive Other is a key concept in continental philosophy; it opposes the Same. The Other refers, or attempts to refer, to that which is Other than the initial concept being considered...

|-
| EAB Pegasus II

HAI Pegasus

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 || ? || At least 5 in service and 12 on order.
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| NAMC YS-11

NAMC YS-11

The 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.-Development and design:In...

Japan Japan || Calibration || YS-11 || 1 ||
|-
| || || || || 6 ? ||
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Total Aircraft
|- style="background:#efefef; color:black"
| || || || || 510+ || Small Numbers of F-5s and oldest A-7Hs in reserve
|}

Retired and Historical Aircraft

PZL P.24
PZL P.24
|-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Axworthy, Mark. Third Axis, Fourth Ally. London: Arms and Armour, 1995. ISBN 1-85409-267-7.* Bernád, Dénes. Rumanian Air Force: The Prime Decade 1938-1947. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc, 1999. ISBN 0-89747-402-3.* Cynk, Jerzy B. Polish...
Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was 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...
Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
Henschel Hs 126
Henschel Hs 126
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1970 . ISBN 0-356-02382-6....
Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Grumman HU-16 Albatross
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Cessna T-37 Tweet
Nord Noratlas
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
Dassault Mirage F1
The Dassault Mirage F1 is a French 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
North American F-86 Sabre
Republic F-84 Thunderjet
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter
Dassault Mirage F-1

Weapons Inventory

AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM : 150
AIM-120B AMRAAM : 240
AIM-9M Sidewinder : 165
AIM-9L/I1 Sidewinder : 300
AIM-9L/I Sidewinder : 400
AIM-9P4 Sidewinder(upgraded P3 and J-Sidewinder) : 1,000
MBDA MICA
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
The IRIS-T is a German-led program to develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the venerable AIM-9 Sidewinder found in some of the NATO member countries...

: 350 (with 90 joint helmet mounted cueing systems)
R550 Magic
R550 Magic
The R.550 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...

-2 : 303
Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...

AM-39 Block 2 : 39
SCALP EG : 90
Bombkapsel 90
Bombkapsel 90
Bombkapsel 90 is the Swedish Air Force's nomenclature for a gliding stand-off submunitions dispenser, or cluster bomb, with 72 submunitions. It is manufactured by DaimlerChrysler Aerospace in Germany by the name of DWS 24 - Dispenser Weapon System 24 barrels. The BK90 is also commonly known as...

AFDS : 70
AGM-65G2 : 200
AGM-65A/B : 200+ (?)
AGM-88B Block IIIA
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...

: 84
AGM-154C JSOW : 40
GBU-8B HOBOS : 96
GBU-12 & GBU-16 Paveway II : 1,162
GBU-24 Paveway III : 200
GBU-27 Paveway III : 250
JDAM : 100
Enchanced Paveway II : 50

Navigation and Targeting Pods

DB-110: 2 (RECON)
LANTIRN
LANTIRN
Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or LANTIRN, is a combined navigation and targeting pod 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
LANTIRN
Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or LANTIRN, is a combined navigation and targeting pod 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
LITENING targeting pod
LITENING targeting pod
The AN/AAQ-28 LITENING targeting pod is a precision targeting pod system currently operational with a wide variety of combat aircraft. LITENING significantly increases the combat effectiveness of the aircraft during day, night and under-the-weather conditions in the attack of ground and air...

F-4E AUP: 15
A-7E/TA-7C LANA Night Navigation Pods: ?
ASTAC ELINT-SIGINT: 3 ( RF-4)
EW(Electronic Warfare)Pods:? (F-4 AUP)
ACMI(Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation)pods:10?

Anti-aircraft Systems

Patriot PAC II/ PAC III
MIM-104 Patriot
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 / 12 launchers / 96 missiles
SKYGUARD/VELOS AA system: 20 launchers / 280 missiles / 24 Oerlikon-35 Guns
Crotale NG/GR
Crotale missile
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
FIM-92 Stinger
The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , 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
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 20 mm Twin Anti-Aircraft Cannon
Rheinmetall Zwillingsflak twin-gun anti-aircraft system began development in 1968 to meet the requirements 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).
The A-7 Corsair IIs used the "Vietnam" theme.C-130s after AUP program receive the USAFs "Grey" theme.

Accidents and incidents

The worst accident in the history of the Hellenic Air Force occurred on February 5, 1991 when Lockheed

Lockheed Corporation

The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...

C-130H Hercules

C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...

748 crashed into Mount Othrys

Mount Othrys

Mount 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 Anchialos

Nea Anchialos

. Sixty-three people were killed.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

Foundation

Balkan Wars and aftermath

World War II and Civil War

Post-war developments

Modernization

Entering the 21st century

Future plans

Administrative organisation

Order of Battle

Commissioned officers

NCO/Enlisted

Equipment

Aircraft Inventory

Retired and Historical Aircraft

Weapons Inventory

Navigation and Targeting Pods

Anti-aircraft Systems

Camo

Accidents and incidents

Further reading

External links