Greece is moving forward with its F-35 program, with the first eight Greek Air Force pilots set to begin training in the...

Greece is moving forward with its F-35 program, with the first eight Greek Air Force pilots set to begin training in the United States in 2027, according to an official timeline announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The pilots will be accompanied by a team of specialized technicians and will follow the same training protocol used by every other country entering the F-35 program. Construction of Greece's F-35s is scheduled to begin at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas facility in early 2027. The aircraft are expected to receive Greek markings by 2028, with the original plan calling for delivery of the first eight jets by 2030. A second scenario under consideration would split that first batch into two deliveries of four aircraft each, potentially bringing the first four jets to Greece as early as 2029. The permanent home base for Greece's F-35s will be the 117 Combat Wing at Andravida air base in the western Peloponnese. Before the stealth jets can arrive, the base must complete a full certification process approved by U.S. authorities. Infrastructure upgrades underway include new maintenance facilities, specialized stealth hangars, cybersecurity systems, and classified information handling spaces. Once operational, the F-35s will integrate with Greece's existing fleet through the Link 16 data network, connecting with Rafale jets, upgraded F-16 Vipers, new FDI frigates, Patriot air defense systems, and Erieye early warning aircraft. Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has said Greece now sits at the core of the most significant Western defense programs. The F-35 acquisition is unfolding while Washington and Ankara are in active discussions about a potential F-35 sale to Turkey. Erdogan dismissed Greek and Israeli objections to such a sale, saying those reactions have "no place in his world." #Greece #F35 #HellenicAirForce