Aegean falcon turn 30

摘要

The 'Viper' plays a vital role in Greek air defence and, with a recently announced modernisation programme, it will continue to do so for many years to come. With a total of 170 Fighting Falcons acquired, the Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia (Hellenic Air Force, HAF) is one of the largest NATO operators and currently has eight operational F-16 squadrons on strength. The first F-16 Block 30 aircraft arrived in Greece on January 20, 1989. The selected date was no coincidence, since it was 15 years to the day that the prototype YF-16 had performed its maiden flight. Greek F-16s were acquired via four iterations of the Peace Xenia programme. Greece's F-16 Block 30s were acquired via a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) arrangement through Peace Xenia I. In the f early 1980s, a requirement emerged for a new fighter to replace the ageing fleet of F-104s and F-5 Freedom Fighters. Specifications were drawn up and the Mirage 2000 and F-16 emerged as the main candidates. In January 1987, the government in Athens signed the Peace Xenia I agreement, covering delivery of 40 Block 30 aircraft - 34 single-seat F-16Cs and six two-seat F-16D variants. In April 1993, Peace Xenia Ⅱ was signed, providing for delivery of an additional 40 Block 50 aircraft, comprising 32 single-seaters and eight two-seaters, equivalent to the USAF's F-16CJ/DJ.