Greek Air Force receives 10th F-16 Viper fighter - Lockheed Martin and HAI will modernise 84 fourth-generation aircraft in total

Lockheed Martin and Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) have announced the handover of another fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter to the Greek Air Force, which has undergone Viper modernisation.

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The Viper upgrade improves the fighter's capabilities, enabling the Greek Air Force to successfully fight against emerging threats in the region and support allied missions around the world. The aircraft has an active phased array radar and a new flight computer. The upgrade allows the F-16V to better interface with the fifth-generation F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fighters.

In September 2022, the Greek Air Force received the first fighters in the Viper configuration. Two of the aircraft are being used for pilot training. The 10th F-16V was handed over to the service this week. If all goes according to plan by 2027, the Greek Air Force will receive all 84 modernised fighters.

Athens signed the first contract for the F-16 Fighting Falcon in January 1987, with deliveries beginning about two years later. Since then, the Greek Air Force has purchased 170 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft in Block 30, Block 50 and Block 52 configurations. The Viper upgrade programme will bring the Greek defence industry a total of more than $1 billion.

Source: Ekathimerini