Greece emerges as a strong air force with the addition of 5th generation fighter jets after the US State Department approved Greece’s request for 40 F35 jets.

In the early hours of Saturday, the State Department notified her letter of acceptance of Greek request for 20 plus 20 F35 while also unlocking a large weapons program from the US stockpile that includes C-130 transports, frigates and armored fighting vehicles, which are expected to strengthen all branches of the Armed Forces.

With the F35, Greece enters in the 5th generation of fighters as it is an aircraft almost invisible to enemy radars with increased capabilities of network-centric operations, composition and sharing of tactical images, while together with Rafale and F-16 Vipers and Belharra frigates it will act as a power multiplier for the Greek Armed Forces.

He will intercede a 14-day period provided for formal reasons in case a senator wants to file an objection to the program. Then the negotiation will begin with the competent office for the sales of the F35 belonging to the American government. The negotiation will last approximately 12 months with a time horizon of early 2025 for the signature of the program.

For an important day for the country’s national defense and Greek diplomacy as the strategic depth of Greek-American relations is highlighted and sealed, the Prime Minister spoke in his message after receiving the letter from the American Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken.

In his statement the prime minister is mentioned and in the provision to Greece of a large free package of armaments, which marks the country’s double armoring as its deterrent power is magnified on land, in the air and at sea.

For his part, the head of American diplomacy, Anthony Blinken, in the letter he sent to the prime minister, speaks of further strengthening cooperation in security matters between Greece and the US, with the aim of promoting common interests and international peace and security.

In fact, Anthony Blinken in his letter also mentions in the strong bilateral relationship and the solid ties between Greece and the USA.

In his letter to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Anthony Blinken mentions that the agreement includes free concessions to Greece with the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program, which are already disclosed to Congress, such as:

  • Two C-130H aircraft, Surplus Defense Materiel,
  • Ten engines for P-3 aircraft, Surplus Defense Materiel and
  • 60 Bradley armored fighting vehicles, as Surplus Defense Materiel

Accordingly, he notes that Congress will be informed of the following to be transferred to Greece:

  • Up to 40 new F-35 aircraft through Foreign Military Sales,
  • Three Protector class ships as EDA- and
  • Various trucks and trailers as EDA

Government sources expressed their satisfaction with the development, which speaks of practical recognition of Greece’s leadership role in the region, its role as a pillar of stability, peace and security, as well as a necessary and reliable partner and ally.

Among other things, they said that the development seals and consolidates the historical high of Greek-American relations and proves in practice that the Greek-American strategic relationship and defense cooperation is autonomous and not mutually exclusive. According to the same sources, “the relationship with the USA is self-contained and independent from relationships with other countries, and the transition to fifth-generation fighter aircraft is the best proof of the course of Greek-American relations.”