Greece Bolsters Air Defense with State-of-the-Art F-16 Enhancements
Lockheed Martin, in association with Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), has recently completed the advancement of the 20th F-16 combat jet to the state-of-the-art “Viper” configuration for the Hellenic Air Force (HAF). This critical upgrade enhances Greece’s defense capability, providing the HAF with the most sophisticated F-16 fleet in Europe.
The F-16V upgrades are being carried out at HAI’s Tanagra facilities under a $1.5 billion project authorized by the U.S. government in October 2017. The first revamped aircraft was delivered in 2009 as an F-16C Block 52+, utilizing a Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine, part of the Peace Xenia IV foreign military sale program. Greece is modernizing 84 of its total 90 Block 52/52+ F-16s. The remaining 80 Block 30/50 aircraft equipped with General Electric F110 engines are not included in this project.
The upgraded jets are classified as F-16V Block 72 configuration, with the “2” denoting the Pratt & Whitney engine. A remarkable feature is the integration of the Northrop Grumman APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) featuring an active electronically scanned array (AESA) to enhance detection and tracking capabilities.
The cockpit for pilots experiences a significant upgrade with a new center pedestal display and compatibility with the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) II. Further enhancements include a more powerful mission computer, an automatic ground collision avoidance system, an advanced electronic warfare suite, and Link 16 datalink for secure communications, as well as a modern friend-or-foe identification mechanism.
“Lockheed Martin is proud to collaborate with HAI in delivering these state-of-the-art F-16V fighters to the Hellenic Air Force,” remarked OJ Sanchez, Vice President of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Fighter Group. “This upgrade boosts Greece’s NATO operational capabilities and equips them with Europe’s most advanced and cost-effective F-16 fleet.”
