“We are excited to welcome Greece to the F-35 Team,” said Vice Admiral Mike Schmidt, F-35 Program Director and Executive Officer at the Joint Program Office-JPO
Today, the Government of Greece confirmed its intention to procure 20 F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Lockheed Martin by signing a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), through the FMS (Military Material Sale) process, with the US Government. The Letter of Offer & Acceptance (LOA) also includes as an option the supply of 20 additional aircraft.
“We are excited to welcome Greece to the F-35 Team,” said Vice Admiral Mike Schmidt, Director and Executive Officer of the F-35 program at the Joint Program Office-JPO. “The F-35 will provide outstanding capabilities to the Hellenic Air Force, enhancing interoperability between our allies and strengthening the combat effectiveness of NATO forces as a whole.”
“For many decades, the Hellenic Air Force has been our partner and we are honored to continue that relationship as Greece becomes the 19th nation to join the F-35 program,” said Bridget Lauderdale, Vice President and General Manager of the F-35 program. -35 by Lockheed Martin. “The F-35 is the only fighter that has the ability to strengthen the sovereignty and at the same time the operational capabilities of Greece in operating with its allies,” he added.
The F-35 is now becoming the fighter of choice for NATO, offering unparalleled interoperability within the Organization as well as with other friendly nations. This capability gives the US and its allies a significant advantage, ensuring strategic superiority for decades. By the 2030s, more than 600 F-35s will be operating in more than 10 European countries, including two full US F-35 Squadrons, based at Lakenheath Air Force Base, UK.
“The F-35’s growing presence in Europe is a strong demonstration of alliance deterrence and lays the foundation for the next generation of NATO and allied airpower,” said Mara Motherway, Lockheed Martin’s Vice President of Strategy and Business Development.
The F-35 plays a critical role in deterring threats and disrupting adversary plans and actions. The presence of the F-35 strengthens Greece and the Armed Forces, ensuring regional stability and protecting the sovereignty of the Alliance’s airspace. As the battlefield evolves, connectivity becomes increasingly important. The F-35 is poised to play a critical role for the Armed Forces, contributing significantly to success on the 21st century battlefield.
To date, the F-35 operates from 32 bases worldwide, with an additional 10 countries gradually deploying the F-35 on their territory. There are now almost 1,000 aircraft in operational operation, with more than 860,000 flight hours in total.
Our ongoing cooperation with Greece in strengthening its defense capabilities, as well as that of NATO, also includes F-16, C-130 and Hawk helicopters, with which the Hellenic Armed Forces operate. A portion of the F-16 fleet is currently being upgraded to the advanced ‘Viper’ version, while the C-130 Hercules fleet supports the airlift’s critical missions. Greece also recently signed another LOA to acquire 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, in addition to the existing fleet of S-70B naval cooperation helicopters and newly acquired MH-60Rs.
Source: Skai
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