Hellenic News Update 12-02-2024

Greece may have asked for 12 F-35A 
DSCA announced the Greek F-35A acquisition plan for 40 aircraft with an approximately $ 8 billion budget. The actual plan might be for 12 stealth aircraft. According to the Greek defence publication defence-point.Greek Air Force might plan to acquire 12 aircraft from the U.S. The DSCA announced 40 aircraft, but it was later stated that the plan could be 20. The publication claims that the plan could be 12 aircraft, which does not constitute a fighter fleet. Read more

Greece Expresses Interest In Co-Production Of Constellation-Class Frigates - January 30, 2024 
The Greek Minister of Defence Nikolaos Dendias has officially announced Greece's ambitious plan to construct seven Constellation-class frigates, showcasing the nation's commitment to bolstering its naval capabilities. The surprise announcement came shortly after a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, approving the allocation of four (4) Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) to Greece as part of a comprehensive equipment package. The ambitious plan involves the construction of up to seven (7) state-of-the-art Constellation-class (FFG-62) frigates in Greece for the Hellenic Navy (HN). Read more

Greece closer than ever to procure LCS from the U.S. - January 29, 2024 
The Hellenic Navy is closer than ever to procure Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) following a letter from US Secretary of State allocating four vessels to Greece. The recent letter from the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis regarding the allocation of four Freedom-class LCS (Littoral Combat Ships) to Greece, within the framework of a large-scale equipment package that includes a plethora of systems to enhance or modernize all branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces, confirms in its entirety the longstanding rumors of Greece’s interest in acquiring LCS. Read more

F-35 deal puts Greece in Catch-22: US offers $200M for weapons transfer to Ukraine - January 29, 2024 
Blinken proposes weaponry exchange with Greece for potential Ukraine aid. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has proposed a potential exchange with Greece, offering to facilitate the transfer or sale of weaponry to Ukraine in return for Washington’s consideration of providing additional aid to Athens, amounting to a possible US$200 million. In a letter addressed to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Blinken expressed interest in Greece’s defence capabilities that could be useful to Ukraine, contingent upon Ukraine’s interest and a subsequent assessment of the condition and approximate cost of the proposed assets. Read more

U.S. State Department Approves F-35 Sale To Greece - January 27, 2024
Greece might receive up to 40 F-35 jets for an estimated cost of 8.6B USD. The U.S. State Department has approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Greece for up to 40 F-35A 5th gen. fighter jets along with 42 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines (40 installed and 2 spares), for an estimated cost of 8.6 billion USD. The United States Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the Congress of the possible sale on Jan. 26, 2024. Read more

Hydra-Class Upgrade Program: A Never-Ending Story - January 26, 2024
A total of 25 MEKO 200 frigates were built of six different configurations for five different countries, by the time construction ended in July 2006. The majority of these frigates have already been upgraded or are undergoing Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) programs. This aims to prolong their operational life until the late 2030s, ensuring they remain as the backbone of their respective fleets. However, this is not the situation for the Greek ships. Read more

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Thales cooperate in frigate modernization program - January 24, 2024
Four MEKO® 200 HN (Hellenic Navy) frigates have been in service with the Hellenic Navy since the mid-1990s. In order to extend the service life of the fleet, the Navy intends to commission a comprehensive modernization (mid-life upgrade). The original equipment manufacturers of the four MEKO® 200 HN frigates, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Thales, were approached for the modernization program. Thales and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems have now joined forces to form a consortium for the planned modernization program. The consortium agreement was signed by both partners on December 12, 2023. Read more

Greece opting for a new defense model - January 16, 2024
Greece has made a strategic decision to opt for quality, innovation and strengthening of its domestic defense industry, over quantity, the static traditional way of doing things and the total reliance on foreign weapon systems. The recent sweeping changes to the military leadership reflect the intention to move into a new era, building the “armed forces of 2030.” As Defense Minister Nikos Dendias told Kathimerini in an interview. The challenges faced by the country because of its geographical position, as well as the situation in the broader vicinity, demand a radically different approach. Read more

Greece Considers Freedom-class LCS Acquisition - January 16, 2024
Greek Parliament Member Tasos Chatzivasileiou disclosed the discussions with the U.S. to sell four second-hand Freedom-class LCS. This isn’t the first time Greece was offered the Freedom-class LCS (Littoral Combat Ship). The U.S. State Department approved a possible sale of four Multi-Mission Surface Combatants based on Freedom-class LCS in 2021. The cost of the sale was estimated at $6.9 billion. The proposed configuration of MMSC for the Hellenic Navy consisted of eight RGM-84 Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles, 57 mm or 76 mm naval gun, eight Mk41 Vertical Launch Systems, and Mk49 RAM or SeaRAM Short-Range Air Defence System. Read more

France and Greece Cooperate on the Patroller UAV Program - January 12, 2024
Greece and France deepen defence relations in UAV programmes. The first step will be on Patroller UAV, but more will come. In the context of the talks, signing a text of mutual intent for cooperation to develop and use Safran’s Patroller occurred. According to reports, Greece is considering other French armed UAVs and tactical-level UAV designs in addition to the newly acquired Patrollers. The Patrollers have retractable landing gears and can take off from 250-meter-long runways. Read more

KYSEA overhauls Greece’s military leadership - January 12, 2024 
The National Security Governmental Council (KYSEA), Greece’s top decision-making body for foreign affairs and defense matters, implemented substantial changes to the military leadership on Friday. These changes reflect the government’s dedication to conducting a comprehensive review of the Armed Forces’ operations and addressing issues from the recent past. Lieutenant General Dimitrios Houpis, the former Commander of the Special Warfare Command, now assumes the role of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA). Read more