Hellenic Air Force
Air Force Inventory
| AEW & CA | UNITS | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Ericsson Erieye / Embraer EMB-145H | 4 |
It is necessary for ground-based radar stations and aircraft, in conjunction with Navy ships, to be fully equipped with Link 16, in order to achieve networking synergies.
| AIRCRAFT | UNITS | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Heron | 2 | Leased for 4 years |
| PEGASUS II | 4 | +2 in storage |
The main driver for leasing 2 Israeli UAV Heron systems is to provide a continuous image to the geographical area of Thrace, the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean sea, dramatically increasing the ability to gather information, perform surveillance and provide targeting. The new UAVs offer greater capabilities than the existing Pegasus II, in an an area in which the Hellenic Airforce has been significantly lagging behind. Apart from leasing Herons, the Ministry of Defence plans for the aquisition of Medium-Sized Unmanned Aircraft (UAV) offering greater autonomy.
"Pegasus II" currently operates with the Unmanned Aircraft Squadron under the call sign "Acheron". The Squadron is based at the Air Base in Aktio Preveza and has 4 fully operational systems and 2 more, which are currently in storage. The UAV has a flight time of between 6 and 8 hours, depending on the weather and winds, and its range is several hundred kilometers when cruising at the economic speed of about 120 km/h. The aircraft is equipped with a FLIR system offering high definition imagery for day and night use. It is 4.5 meters long, with a wingspan of about 6,5 meters. It's total weight, including fuel and payload, is 250 kg.
The withdrawal of the last 4 RF-4E tactical reconnaissance aircraft in May 2017, left the ASTAC electronic reconnaissance sensors without a carrier. The mission of these specific systems is the "mapping" of the opponent's electronic battlefield, including any anti-aircraft systems. The sensors can not be transferred to any another aircraft operated by the Hellenic Airforce today (without modifications).
| TRAINING | UNITS | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Tecnam P2002JF | 12 | Initial Training |
| T-6 Texan II | 45 | Initial and basic training |
| T-2E / T-2C Buckeye | 34/5 | Advanced and operational training |
| T-41D Mescalero | 18 | initial Training |
The T-6 Texan II aircraft is a modified version of the PC-9 Mk.2 (the two aircraft differ at about 70%) and in Greek service have been equipped with a machine gun and rockets, in order to carry out close air support missions. The T-41D is the military version of the C-172 Skyhawk.
The two most important problems for HAF have been the low availability of T-6A Texan II and T-2E Buckeye aircraft, as well as lack of true operational training. The T-2Es jets, altough twin-engine, are far from being considered as modern training aircraft (LIFT - Lead In Fighter Trainers) and cannot be used to prepare pilots before moving to their Squadrons. They were acquired in 1976 and to date they have been used for trianing thousands of Greek pilots. However, by 2023 the support for spare parts will end.
To address the issue, HAF established a cooperation with the Italian Air Force in the form of student exchanges between the two countries taking advantage of the Greek T-6A Texan II. In late 2020, the airforce decided in favor of establishing an International Flight Training Center in Kalamata and the project was assigned to the Israeli company ELBIT.
| TRANSPORTS | UNITS | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| C-27J Spartan | 8 | |
| C-130H Hercules | 10 | 2 C-130H with ELINT/SIGINT |
| C-130B Hercules | 5 | Upgrading |
| C-47 Dakota | 2 | Demonstration |
The fleet of transport aircraft is under immense pressure, as the C-130 H/B have stayed on the ground for many years and the Hellenic Aircraft Industries have been unable to complete the modernization of the older aircraft as well as keep up with the maintenance of the younger ones, due to the ongoing projects of reconstructing the P-3 Orions and upgrading the F-16s to the Viper variant.
It was finally decided to complete the maintainance of 3 C-130s in the Israeli IAI, while the Hellenic Aircraft Industries will restore the remaining 3 C-130 transports. A 7th aircraft will be restored in the Hellenic Airfoce Base.
The aim is for all transport aircraft to be operational within 2021.
| FIRE FIGHTERS | UNITS | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Canadair CL-415GR | 8 | |
| Canadair CL-415MP Superscooper | 1 | SAR Equipment |
| Canadair CL-215 Scooper | 11 |
| HELICOPTERS | UNITS | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| AS 332 C1 Super Puma | 8 | (CSAR) |
| AS 332 A2 MEDEVAC | 2 | |
| AS 332 A2 Super Puma | 2 | Fire fighters |
| AB-205 A/A1 Agusta Bell | 11 | Civil variant of UH-1H Iroquois |
| AB-212 Twin Huey | 4 | VIP |
| A-109E/109S Augusta Power | 3/2 | Medical services |
The AB-212 Twin Huey is an extended version of the AB-205A1, also known as the UH-1N Twin Huey.
The Hellenic Air Force has 11 AB-205 helicopters operating out of the 358 Squadron and 6 AS332C1 Super Puma with the 384 Squadron. In addition, it utilizes 4 more Super Puma helicopters owned by the Ministry of Merchant Shipping.
| MISC | UNITS | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| PZL M-18/S Dromader | 18/3 | Single / two-seater sprayers |
| G-164A Super Ag-Cat | 11 | Sprayers [1] |
| Beechcraft King Air 350C | 2 | Medical services [2] |
| Gulfstream V (G-500) | 1 | VIP |
| ERJ-135BJ/LR Legacy | 1/1 | VIP |
| B-47G3Β2/G5 Bell | 7 | Sprayers / Training |
| BO-105 (περιπολίας) | 3 | Hellenic Police |
| EC-135 (patrol) | 2 | Hellenic Police |
| BK-117 | 3 | Fire fighters |
[1] In 2011 it was decided to withdraw them due to their high operating costs
[2] Two twin-engine King Air 350C turbochargers will join the fleet in 2020-2021, in the context of the implementation of the donation program amounting to 25,000,000 euros of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. In addition to the purchase of new aircraft, the program includes the procurement of an additional 2 A-109 Trekker helicopters.
The King Air 350C purchase agreement also includes the ProAdvantage program of Textron Aviation, which ensures low fixed costs of use with pre-budgeted cost for maintenance and spare parts. According to the contract signed in June of 2019 between Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Hellenic Government:
- The execution of the flights will be done in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, based on a memorandum of cooperation
- The Greek State has the responsibility to create the right conditions (accesses, site preparation, time planning, staff adequacy) for the receipt and operation of airplanes and helicopters
- The State and the National Emergency Center must ensure the technical support and maintenance of the aircraft through the continuous supply of spare parts and consumables. The maintenance will be carried out according to the terms to be agreed in the supply contract
- The aircraft will be hosted on air bases, which the National Emergency Center operates in collaboration with the Air Force. They will be in full ownership and use of the National Emergency Center, exclusively for the transport of critically ill patients to hospitals or the transport of doctors to provide first aid to critically ill patients
- Making them available to third parties or replacing them is expressly prohibited in the contract, except in the case of damage or devaluation and provided that a written consent of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation is provided
The King Air 350C aircraft are equipped with a cargo door in order to facilitate the transport of patients. They are also equipped with support infrastructure of medical monitoring / care and can accomodate accompanying medical and nursing staff.
