Greece’s one of most selling newspaper Ta Nea wrote Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ desire to acquire F-35 aircraft. “If the fiscal conditions allow, we will seriously consider buying the F-35 because it is the most up-to-date and up-to-date market.” With this phrase at the established celebration lunch with reporters, Kyriakos Mitsotakis put officially on the table the issue of reinforcing Air Force with the 5th generation American fighter aircraft F-35.
One scenario that Kyriakos Mitsotakis might possibly discuss in Washington is the possibility of Greece joining the co-production program. In the second phase, the market for ultra-modern stealth fighters could also be considered.
Another scenario that has been considered is even the immediate purchase of a few F-35, but under certain conditions. One of them will be to get Greece into the co-production program of the F-35 while reducing the number of upgrades to the Greek F-16 in Viper format. All of the above may not be clarified on Kyriakos Mitsotakis' trip to the US, where he is expected to have contacts with US Vice President Mike Pence and Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo, in addition to meeting Donald Trump at the White House.
The obstacles
Thorns – apart from the high cost of purchase, use and maintenance – of the F-35s are also the subject of Air Force infrastructure. If purchased immediately, then the Air Force will have to make huge leaps and bounds to modernize its infrastructure to accommodate and maintain 5th generation fighters. And it should be remembered that the upgrading of the 84 F-16s to the Viper version is just about to begin, a program that will be a “bridge” to join the 5th Generation Air Force and fighters in the future.
