Hellenic Air Force

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Hellenic Air Force
??????? ?????????
Seal of the Hellenic Air Force.svg
Hellenic Air Force's seal
Founded 1930; 87 years ago[1][2]
Country Greece
Type Air force
Role Aerial warfare
Size approx. 33,000 personnel
448+ aircraft
8 types of air defence systems
Part of Hellenic Armed Forces
Patron Archangels Michael and Gabriel
Motto(s) ???? ??????????
"Always Dominate the Heights"
Colors Air Force blue, White & Gold
Engagements Balkan Wars
World War I
Greco-Turkish War (19191922)
World War II
Air operations during the Greek Civil War
Korean War
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Operation Desert Storm
War on Terror
2011 military intervention in Libya
Commanders
Chief of Air Force General Staff Air Marshal Christos Christodoulou
Notable
commanders Aristeidis Moraitinis
Insignia
Identification
symbol ??
Roundels Roundel of Greece.svg Greece Naval Lowvis Roundel.svg
Fin flash Fin Flash of Greece.svg
Flag (19731978) Flag of the Hellenic Air Force (1973-1978).svg
Flag HellenicAirForceFlag.gif
Aircraft flown
Attack F-16, Mirage 2000
Bomber F-4 Phantom II
Fighter F-16, Mirage 2000
Reconnaissance Embraer E-99A, Pegasus II, P-3 Orion
Trainer T-41, T-6 Texan II, T-2
Transport C-27J, C-130, ERJ-135, Gulfstream V, Bell 212, Super Puma, Bell 205,
Canadair CL-215, Canadair CL-415
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF; Greek: ??????? ?????????, Polemik Aeropora,
literally "War Aviation", sometimes abbreviated as ??) is the air force of Greece
(with Hellenic being a synonym for Greek). The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is
to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the
Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid
in Greece and around the world. The Hellenic Air Force includes approximately
33,000 active troops, of whom 11,750 are career officers, 14,000 are professional
conscripts (??.??.), 7,250 are volunteer conscripts and 1,100 are women. During the
period of monarchy between 19351973 the force was known as the Royal Hellenic Air
Force (RHAF) (Greek: ???????? ???????? ?????????, Ellinik Vasilik Aeropora). The
motto of the Hellenic Air Force is the ancient Greek phrase ???? ?????????? (Aien
Hypsikraten, "Always Dominate the Heights"), and the HAF ensign represents a
flying eagle in front of the Hellenic Air Force roundel. The Hellenic Air Force is
one of the three branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces.

Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Foundation
1.2 Balkan Wars and aftermath
1.3 World War II and Civil War
1.4 Post-war developments
1.5 Modernization
1.6 Entering the 21st century
1.7 Plans
1.8 Political involvement
2 Organisation
2.1 Administrative organisation
2.2 Order of Battle
3 Personnel
3.1 Commissioned officers
3.2 NCO/Enlisted
4 Equipment
5 Aircraft
5.1 Current inventory
5.2 Retired and historical aircraft
5.3 Weapons inventory
5.4 Navigation and targeting pods
5.5 Anti-aircraft systems
5.6 Aircraft markings and camouflage
5.7 Aircraft accidents and incidents
6 Gallery
7 See also
8 References
9 Further reading
10 Bibliography
11 External links
History[edit]
Main article: History of the Hellenic Air Force
Foundation[edit]
In 1911, the Greek Government appointed French specialists to form the Hellenic
Aviation Service. Six Greek officers were sent to France for training, while the
first four "Farman" type aircraft were ordered.All of the six graduated from the
Farman school in tampes near Paris, but only four served subsequently in aviation.
The first civilian Greek aviator who was given military rank was Emmanuel
Argyropoulos, who flew in a Nieuport IV.G. "Alkyon" aircraft, on February 8, 1912.

The first military flight was made on May 13, 1912 by Lieutenant Dimitrios
Kamberos. In June, Kamberos flew with the "Daedalus", a Farman Aviation Works
aircraft that had been converted into a seaplane, setting a new world average speed
record at 110 km/h (68 mph) and the foundations of Naval Aviation. During September
of the same year, the Greek Army fielded its first squadron, the "Aviators Company"
(????? ?????????).

Balkan Wars and aftermath[edit]

Airco De Havilland D.H.9 bomber of the Hellenic Naval Air Service in Izmir/Smyrna
(1919)
On October 5, 1912, Kamberos flew the first combat mission, a reconnaissance flight
over Thessaly.This was the first day of the Balkan wars, and during the same day a
similar mission was flown by German mercenaries in Ottoman service in the Thrace
front against the Bulgarians.The Greek and the Ottoman mission flown during the
same day are the first military aviation combat missions in a conventional war.As a
matter of fact all Balkan countries used military aircraft and foreign mercenaries
during the Balkan Wars. January 24, 1913 saw the first naval co-operation war
mission worldwide, which took place above the Dardanelles. Aided by the destroyer
Velos, first Lieutenant Michael Moutoussis and Ensign Aristeidis Moraitinis flew
the Maurice Farman hydroplane and drew up a diagram of the positions of the Turkish
fleet, against which they dropped four bombs. This was not the first air-to-surface
bombing in military history as there was a precedent in the Turkish Italian war of
1911, but the first recorded attack against ships from the air.

Initially, the Hellenic Army and the Royal Hellenic Navy operated separate Army
Aviation and Naval Aviation units. During the Balkan Wars, various French Henry and
Maurice Farman aircraft types were in use. Naval Aviation was officially founded in
1914 by the then CinC of the Hellenic Navy, British Admiral Mark Kerr. Greek
aviation units participated in World War I and the Asia Minor Campaign, equipped by
the Allies with a variety of French and British designs.

In 1930, the Aviation Ministry was founded, establishing the Air Force as the third
branch of the Armed Forces. The Hellenic Army Air Service and Hellenic Naval Air
Service were amalgamated into a single service, the Hellenic Air Force. In 1931 the
Hellenic Air Force Academy, the Scholi Ikaron (????? ??????), was founded.

In 1939, an order for 24 Marcel Bloch MB.151 fighter aircraft was placed, but only
9 of the aircraft reached Greece, since the outbreak of World War II prevented the
French from completing the order. The aircraft served in the 24th Pursuit Squadron
(MD Moira Dioxis) of the then Hellenic Royal Air Force.

World War II and Civil War[edit]

Drawing of a PZL P.24, the main Greek fighter in the Greco-Italian War. The ?120
means that the plane belonged at Marinos Mitralexis

Greek pilots of the 335th Fighter Squadron in Egypt (1942).

During the Second World War, although being severely outnumbered, counting only 79
aircraft against the 380 fighters and bombers available to the Italian Regia
Aeronautica,[3] RHAF managed to successfully resist the Italian invasion in 1940.
On November 2, 1940, a Breguet 19 intercepted the 3 Alpine Division Julia while it
was penetrating Pindos mountain range and moving on to occupy Metsovo. At the same
day, Second Lieutenant Marinos Mitralexis, being out of ammunition, aimed the nose
of his PZL P.24 (his aircraft imaged below from the paragraph title in mobile
version) right into an enemy Cant Z1007bis tail, smashing the rudder and sending
the bomber out of control.[4] However, after 65 days of war, the RHAF had lost 31
officers killed and seven wounded, plus four NCOs killed and five wounded.
Meanwhile, the number of combat aircraft had dropped to 28 fighters and seven
battleworthy bombers. [5] Still, in March 1941 the Italian invasion was confronted
successfully. During the Greco-Italian War the Hellenic Air Force shot down 64
enemy aircraft (confirmed) and claimed another 24. Actually, according to other
sources, Italians lost 65 aircraft during the whole campaign, against Greeks and
British, getting 495 more aircraft damaged.[6] In April 1941 the German Wehrmacht
invaded Greece to assist her Italian allies. The Luftwaffe destroyed almost the
entire Hellenic Air Force; some aircraft managed to escape in the Middle East. The
top ace of Hellenic Air Force was Andreas Antoniou with 5.5 victories.[4]

Five Avro Anson, one Dornier Do 22 and three Avro 626 escaped. Hellenic aviation
was rebuilt under the Air Force Ministry based in Cairo. Three Hellenic squadrons
were built, which were operating under the command of the British RAF. These
squadrons were the 13th Light Bombing Squadron, with Avro Ansons, Bristol Blenheims
and Martin Baltimores, and the 335 and 336 Fighting Squadrons, with Hawker
Hurricane I and IIs and Spitfire V types. The Hellenic Squadrons in the Middle East
took over a variety of missions, such as convoy patrols, antisubmarine search,
offensive patrols, reconnaissance, attacks and interceptions of enemy aircraft. In
summer 1943 the Greek Squadrons participated in the attack against the German
Wehrmacht on the island of Crete. From May to November 1944 the Greek squadrons
continued in Italy. Greek pilots operated with great success. Two of those pilots
were Pilot Officer G. Tsotsos and Master Sergeant D. Soufrillas flying Spitfires
credited with shooting down German Junkers 88 bombers. Seventy men were lost.[7]

During World War II Greek pilots who were flying with the RAF achieved many
victories. Rhodesian-born Wing Commander John Agorastos Plagis shot down 16 enemy
aircraft over Malta and Western Europe. Flying Lieutenant Vasilios Michael
Vassiliadis was credited with 11.5 enemy aircraft over Western Europe before he was
killed in action on March 15, 1945 over Germany. Steve Pisanos, an immigrant to USA
in 1938, joined an Eagle Squadron of American volunteers in the RAF and fought over
Western Europe. He later joined the USAF and took US citizenship to continue
fighting with the same squadron, now part of the USAF 4th FG. He achieved 10
victories with USAF by 1944.

After Greece's liberation in 1944, RHAF returned home and subsequently played a
decisive role in the Greek Civil War, which lasted until 1949, re-equipped with
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX, Spitfire Mk XVI fighters and Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
bombers.

Post-war developments[edit]

A Douglas C-47 Dakota of the Royal Hellenic Air Force in 1953

After the end of the Greek Civil War in November 1950, Greece sent seven Douglas C-
47 Dakota transport aircraft of the 13th Transport Aircraft Squadron to South Korea
to assist the United Nations. Greek aircraft operated in Korea until May 1955.
Greek pilots flew thousands of war missions, including air evacuations, personnel
transport, intelligence gathering, and supply flights.

In 1952 Greece was admitted to NATO and the Air Force was rebuilt and organized
according to NATO standards, with US assistance. New aircraft, including jets, were
introduced.

The first jet fighter flown by the Hellenic Air Force was the Republic F-84G
Thunderjet. It was also flown by the first Hellenic aerobatic team, 337 SQ. Later,
the F-84 replaced by the Canadair Sabre 2. About 100 examples were supplied during
1954 and 1955 after upgrading in the United Kingdom following service with the
Royal Canadian Air Force. Lockheed T-33s were delivered to training units and some
RT-33s were used for reconnaissance missions.

The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak first flew with the Hellenic Air Force in 1955.
The RF-84F remained in service with the 348 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron from
1956 to March 29, 1991.

In the late 1960s, the RHAF acquired new jet aircraft. These included the Lockheed
F-104G Starfighter, the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger (in service 19691975) and the
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter. The F-104 and F-5 served well for almost 20 years.

In the mid-1970s the Hellenic Air Force was further modernized with deliveries of
the Dassault Mirage F1CG fleet, Vought A-7Hs (including a number of TA-7Hs) and the
first batch of McDonnell-Douglas F-4E Phantom IIs, upgraded versions of which still
serve today.

Also in 1993, the United States Air Force delivered 62 A-7Es and TA-7Cs, increasing
the air-to-ground capability of the HAF. Some A-7s were still in service as of
2011, pending delivery of more-modern fighters.[8]

Modernization[edit]

Hellenic Air Force RF-4E Phantom II, in a special color scheme, lands at RIAT 2008,
UK
Until the late 1980s the Air Force deployed Nike-Hercules Missiles armed with U.S.
nuclear warheads. As a result of Greco-Turkish tensions around the 1974 Turkish
invasion in Cyprus, the U.S. removed its nuclear weapons from Greek and Turkish
alert units to storage. Greece saw this as another pro-Turkish move by NATO and
withdrew its forces from NATOs military command structure from 1974 to 1980.

In March 1985 the Greek government announced the purchase of 34 F-16C Block 30 and
6 F-16D Block 30 in a program called Peace Xenia I. In the same month Greece
ordered 36 single-seat Mirage 2000EG and 4 two-seat Mirage 2000BG, as part of the
"Talos" modernization program.

In 1989 the first fourth-generation fighters were introduced, marking the beginning
of a new era: the first Mirage 2000 EG/BG aircraft were delivered to the 114 Combat
Wing in Tanagra airforce base and equipped the 331 and 332 squadrons. In January
1989 the first F-16C/D Block 30 arrived in 111 combat wing in Nea Anchialos
airforce base and were allocated to the 330 "Thunder" and 346 "Jason" interceptor
squadrons in Larissa airforce base.[9][10]

On March 29, 1991, the RF-84F were retired from service after 34 years and 7 months
of operational life. In November 1992 more RF-4Es were delivered to the 348 "Eyes"
Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.

In 1993 Peace Xenia II program began. Greece ordered 32 F-16C and 8 F-16s, Block 50
version. The first Block 50 was delivered on July 25, 1997. These aircraft,
equipped with the LANTIRN navigation and targeting pod as well as AIM-120 AMRAAM
and AGM-88 HARM missiles, were allocated to the 341 "Aces" and 347 "Perseus"
squadrons in Nea Anchialos airforce base.

The basic mission of 341 "Aces" squadron is Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
(SEAD). The role of 347 "Perseus" squadron is air-to-ground missions.

LTV TA-7C Corsair II departs after the Royal International Air Tattoo, England
(2014)
Entering the 21st century[edit]

Greek F-16D
Greece participated in NATO "nuclear weapons sharing" until 2001, using A-7 Corsair
IIs to deploy tactical B61 nuclear warheads from Araxos Air Base. Greece then
strategically decided to remove all nuclear weapons under storage in Greece and did
not purchase any more aircraft with nuclear mounting capabilities.

In 1998 Greece decided, in cooperation with the German Aerospace Industry (DASA)
and Hellenic Aerospace Industry(EAB), to upgrade 39 F-4E Phantom IIs. After many
problems, the first aircraft were delivered in Andravida Air Base, in December
2002. This aircraft, which is called "Princess of Andravida" (s/n 72-01523), is
unique because it doesn't have the M61 Vulcan gun installed. The upgraded aircraft
are equipped with a new radar AN/APQ-65 YG similar to this of F/A-18 Hornet,
mission-control computer, Head Up Display, IFF Interrogator, Multi Function
Displays and are capable of carrying a large variety of advanced air-to-air and
air-to-ground missiles, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM (only the -B edition), the
AIM-9M missile, the AFDS and all the family of the Paveway (I, II and III) laser-
guided bombs. These aircraft are called F-4E Peace Icarus 2000 (PI2000) or F-4E
Phantom II AUP (Avionics Upgrade Program) and are operating with the 338 Squadron
"Ares" and 339 Squadron "Ajax based in Andravida Air Base in multi-role missions.
[11] Recently, according to 338 Squadron "Ares" crews, the F-4E Phantom II
PI2000(AUP) has been certified for use of GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bombs,
making the aircraft an excellent and modern weapon platform for precision strikes.

Entering the 21st century, Greece decided to purchase a large number of fighter
aircraft, to replace the non-upgraded F-4E Phantoms, a number of A-7 Corsairs, and
the fleet of Mirage F1CGs.

In the year 2000 Greece ordered 60 F-16C/D Block 52+ and 15 Mirage 2000-5Mk.2. The
order for the F-16s was about 50 single-seat of the C version and 10 two-seat of
the D version. Also, Greece decided to upgrade 10 of its existing Mirage 2000EGs to
Mirage 2000-5Mk.2 standards.

In September 2004, Greece started the Mirage 2000BG/EG fleet upgrade to the
standard 2000-5 Mk2 and the project was undertaken by the French manufacturer
Dassault Aviation and the EAB. Fifteen new aircraft were delivered.[12] The Mirage
2000-5Mk.2 has a new more powerful radar, improved Air To Ground capabilities
including the SCALP EG Cruise Missile, new self-protection system, new Inertial
Navigation System(INS), a Glass Cockpit and an air-to-air refueling capability.

In 2005, Greece was the first country worldwide[13] to add the F-16 Block 52+ to
its inventory. This advanced F-16 type is an improved version of the Block 50
featuring a more powerful radar, Conformal Fuel Tanks for bigger Ferry Range,
advanced communications systems, upgraded engine, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing
System (JHMCS) and is capable of carrying more advanced weapons, including the
IRIS-T Air To Air missile. Three squadrons are operating with this type of F-16s.
These squadrons are the 337 Squadron "Ghost" in Larissa air base, 340 Squadron
"Fox" and 343 Squadron "Star" in Souda air base.[14]

In 2005, the Greek government ordered 30 more F-16C/D, 20 single seat and 10 double
seat. These aircraft are called F-16C/D Block 52+ Advanced, but in Hellenic Air
Force are known as F-16 Block 52M (due to improved computing power for mission
computer MMC).[15] The differences between the normal Block 52+ and Block 52+
Advanced, are that the Advanced version has, LINK 16 Communications System, more
powerful Mission Control Computer, an extra Multi Function Display with a movable
map navigation, advanced Debriefing System and the capability of carrying the RECCE
Reconnaissance Pod. The first aircraft were delivered to Hellenic Air Force in May
2009 and they are flying with the 335 Squadron "Tiger" in Araxos air base.[16][17]

Plans[edit]
Greece owns 318 fighters, 205 of them are modern jets. Due to the retirement and
obsolescence of units that have ended their front line operational life (A-7E
Corsair II and F-4 Phantom II), the HAF should be looking forward to acquiring new
4th, 4.5th or 5th generation fighters and at the same time being able to reach a
total number of 300 advanced fighters, according to the Supreme Air Force Council
"20072012 operational planning" study which was published in 2007. Candidates for
4.5th or 5th generation aircraft are the Dassault Rafale, F-35 Lightning II, F/A-
18E/F Super Hornet, MiG-35 and the Sukhoi Su-35.[18] To fill the gap Greece is
constantly modernizing its fleet of older Fighters (Mirages and F-4s)

Past budget cuts forced the HAF to ground many of its F-16 fighters because of a
lack of spare parts and maintenance. Recently Greece requested the U.S. Government
to provide spare parts in support of its F-16, F/RF-4E, C-130H/B, C-27J, T-6A/C,
and other aircraft with systems/subsystems of U.S. origin. The estimated cost of
this help is $160 million.

Current and past Budget cuts will likely not have a large impact on HAF
capabilities, but they will delay programs for the future. HAF defense
modernization program estimated in 2008 it was needed to purchase 45 advance
training aircraft, 15 SAR helicopters and 40-60 modern fighters. Due to Greeces
current economic problems HAF is instead looking for the procurement of used F-16s
and Mirages for a reasonable price, to counter the Turkish Air Force purchase of up
to 100 F-35s 5th generation fighters over the next decade.

In July 2016 the upgrade of the currently stored 6 Lockheed P-3B Orions started,
extending the lifetime of 4 airframes until at least 2025.

Political involvement[edit]
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In its early years, the Air Force was considered politically right-wing and
royalist; indeed, it was known as the "Royal Hellenic Air Force". However, its
officer corps proved to be the most politically left-wing of the Armed Forces.
During the Greek Civil War, the officers of the Greek Army denounced their Air
Force counterparts as "leftists" and "communists" and considered them disloyal and
unreliable.[19][verification needed] During the Regime of the Colonels, the Air
Force aided King Constantine in his failed countercoup of December 1967, and many
leading Air Force Generals were tortured by the ESA men of Dimitrios Ioannidis. The
only Air Force officer that had a significant role in the dictatorial regime was
Antonis Skarmaliorakis. After Andreas Papandreou and his Panhellenic Socialist
Movement (PASOK) party came to power in 1981, ending a long conservative dominance
of Greek politics, the Air Force officers proved to be Papandreou's most
enthusiastic allies in the Armed Forces.[20][verification needed] Andreas returned
the favor, and in 1984, he made an Air Force General the Chief of the Hellenic
National Defense General Staff, the first time someone from the Air Force rose to
occupy that position. In 1997, it was estimated that more than half of the Air
Force officer corps were PASOK supporters.[21][verification needed]

The antagonism between Greece and Turkey has meant that balance in quantitative and
qualitative terms has been of the goals of the HAF. HAF pilots have received
significant training and HAF and TAF have often engaged in mock dogfights. Due to
Greeces current economic problems it is likely it will not procure additional
advanced fighter jets. This may alter current balance of air power.[22]

Due to the existence of the Joint Defence Doctrine between Greece and Cyprus is the
defence of Cypriot air space, as Cyprus has no air force of its own. HAF aircraft
have to be able to reach and stay long enough under combat conditions over Cyprus.
The distance between the nearest base on the island of Crete to Cyprus is about 700
km. Besides this the Hellenic Air Force must have the ability to strike at all
targets of the potential adversary at distances of more than 1,000 km from its
bases. All this makes range one of the most important Hellenic Air Force needs.

Due to political reasons HAF decided to operate two main fighter types (one US and
other European), compared to other NATO air forces that operate one single fighter
type.

Organisation[edit]
Hellenic Air Force
Seal of the Hellenic Air Force.svg
Organization
Structure
Air Force General Staff
Tactical Air Force Command
Air Force Academy
Aircraft
History
History
Timeline
Personnel
List of senior officers
Officer rank insignia
v t e
Administrative organisation[edit]
The Hellenic Air Force is overseen by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence,
whose head is minister Panagiotis Kammenos. More specifically, HAF is directly
overseen by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.

Minister of National Defence: Panagiotis Kammenos

Chief of Air Force General Staff: Lieutenant General (Air Marshal) Christos Vaitsis
Chief of Tactical Air Force Command (HTAFC): Lieutenant General (Air Marshal)
Christos Christodoulou
Chief of Air Force Training Command (HAFTC): Major General (Air Vice Marshal)
Ioannis Manolakos
Chief of Air Force Support Command (HAFSC): Major General (Air Vice Marshal) Symeon
(Simos) Astrinidis
The three commands are

the Tactical Air Command (???????? ???????? ??????????, ATA), headquartered at

Larisa,
the Air Training Command (???????? ??????????? ???????????, ???), based in Tatoi
(Dekelea).
the Air Support Command (???????? ??????????? ???????????, ???), headquartered at
Elefsina, and
The Tactical Air Command includes eight Combat Wings and one Transport Wing. The
Combat Wings have six fighter ground-attack squadrons. There are ten fighter
squadrons, one regular reconnaissance squadron, and one marine reconnaissance
squadron. Three transport squadrons and two helicopter squadrons form the
organization of the air portion of the Tactical Air Command. The Air Training
Command includes four training squadrons.

The eight major HAF installations are located in Larisa, Nea Anchialos (west of
Volos), Elefsis, west of Athens, Thessaloniki, Tanagra, north of Athens, Souda Bay,
Araxos in the northern Peloponnese, and Andravida. Other airports supporting
military operations are located in the Aegean Islands of Karpathos, Santorini
(Thira), Rhodes, Kos, Skyros, and Lemnos as well as in Kavala, Heraklion, Ritsona
and Tatoi/Dekeleia, north of Athens.

Combat operations are overseen by the Chief of Operations of the Supreme Air Force
Council.
Support services are managed by the Directorate of Aeronautical Support of the Air
Force Support Command.
The training squadrons and air force schools, like the "Icarus Air Force Academy"
and the "School of Advanced War Training", run by the Training Directorate of the
Air Force Training Command. Nowadays the Hellenic Air Force is very modernized and
is considered the 12th best airforce in the world.[citation needed] Greece is also
planning on buying a lot of 4th generation aircraft once it recovers from the
current economic crisis.
Order of Battle[edit]

Command Structure of the Hellenic Air Force

Hellenic Air Force General Staff
251st Air Force General Hospital, Athens
Center of Aviation Medicine
Supreme Air Force Medical Committee
Air Court of Athens
HAF Military Police (????????)
Hellenic National Meteorological Service
Single Center Rescue Coordination / Aviation Sector
Center of Aviation Safety and Terrain
Air Force Tactical Command
Air Operations Center in Larissa[23][24]
110th Combat Wing, Larissa AB
337th All Weather Squadron "Ghost" (F-16C/D Block 52+)
348th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron "Eyes" (RF-4E Phantom II) deactivated 5
May 2017 [25]
111th Combat Wing, Nea Anchialos AB
330th Fighter Interception Squadron "Thunder" (F-16C/D Block 30)
341st Fighter-Bomber Squadron "Aces" (F-16C/D Block 50)
347th Fighter-Bomber and Interception Squadron "Perseus" (F-16C/D Block 50)
114th Combat Wing, Tanagra Air Base
331st All Weather Squadron "Theseus" (Mirage 2000-5 Mk2)
332nd All Weather Squadron "Falcon" (Mirage 2000BGM/EGM3)
115th Combat Wing, Souda Bay, Crete
340th Fighter-Bomber Squadron "Fox" (F-16C/D Block 52+)
343rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron "Star" (F-16C/D Block 52+)
116th Combat Wing, Araxos AB
335th Fighter Squadron "Tiger" (F-16C/D Block 52M)
336th Bomber Squadron "Olympus"
117th Combat Wing, Andravida AB
338th Fighter-Bomber Squadron "Ares" (F-4E PI2000 Phantom II)
339th Interception Squadron "Ajax" (F-4E PI2000 Phantom II)
Radars
1st Area Control Centre Hortiatis, call sign "Topsy"
2nd Area Control Centre Parnitha, call sign "Mambo"
3rd Area Control Centre Ziros, call sign "Kronos"
Combat Groups
126 CG Heraklion (closed 2015)
130 CG Limnos
131 CG Aktion
UAV Squadron "Acheron" (EAB Pegasus II) [26]
133 CG Kastelli
135 CG Skyros
Air Detachment
Rhodes Air Detachment
Karpathos Air Detachment
Santorini Air Detachment
Kavala Air Detachment
Tymbaki Air Detachment
350 Guided Missiles Wing, A/B Sedes, Thessaloniki
11th GMS Heraklion - (S-300 PMU1 & TOR M1)
21st and 22nd GMS Keratea & Skyros (MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3)
23rd and 24th GMS Thessaloniki & Tymbaki (MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3)
25th and 26th GMS Crete & Tanagra (MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3, Crotale NG/GR & TOR
M1)
Maintenance Squadron
Special Units
380th AEW&C Squadron "Uranus" Elefsis (Embraer E-145H Erieye)
Air Tactics Center & Tactical Weapons School Andravida
Aerial Photography Interpretation Center Larissa
140th Electronic Warfare Group Larissa
Instrument Flight Training Center Larissa
Air Force Support Command
112th Combat Wing, Elefsis AB[27]
31st CSAR/Special Operations Squadron
352nd VIP/Transport Squadron "Cosmos" (Embraer ERJ-135ER & Gulfstream V)
354th TAS "Pegasus" (C-27J Spartan)
355th TAS/SAR "Hephestus" (Bombardier CL-215)
356th TAS "Hercules" (C-130B/H Hercules)
358th Search and Rescue Squadron" ''Faethon'' (AB 205-205A1, AB 212 & Agusta A-
109E Power helicopters)
384th Search and rescue Squadron "Puma" (AS-332 Super Puma helicopters)
113th Combat Wing, Thessaloniki AB
383rd Air Fire Fighting/CSAR Squadron "Proteus" (Bombardier CL-415)
206th Air Force Infrastructure Wing
201st Air Force Supply Depot
204th Ammunition Supply Depot
Petroleum Distribution Command
Air Force Training Command
Air Force Academy, Dekelia AB[28]
360th Air Training Squadron "Thales" (T-41D Mescalero)
120th Air Training Wing, Kalamata AB
361st Air Training Squadron "Mystras" (T-6A Texan II)
362nd Air Training Squadron "Nestor" (T-2E/C Buckeye)
363rd Air Training Squadron "Danaos" (T-2E/C Buckeye)
364th Air Training Squadron "Pelops" (T-6A Texan II)
Sea Survival Training School
123rd Technical Training Wing, Dekelia AB
Air Defence Staff Training Center
124th Basic Training Wing, Tripoli, Arkadia
1st Cadets Training Squadron
2nd Cadets Training Squadron
3rd Cadets Training Squadron
Local Defence Training Squadron
Air Force Command and Staff College,
Air Force Technical NCO Academy
Air Force Administrative NCO Academy
Air Force Radio Navigators Academy
128th Communications & Avionics Training Group Kavouri, Athens
Personnel[edit]
Commissioned officers[edit]
Officer grade structure of the Hellenic Air Force
NATO Code OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Insignia Hellenic Air Force OF-9.svg Hellenic Air Force OF-8.svg Hellenic Air
Force OF-7.svg Hellenic Air Force OF-6.svg Hellenic Air Force OF-5.svg
Hellenic Air Force OF-4.svg Hellenic Air Force OF-3.svg Hellenic Air Force
OF-2.svg Hellenic Air Force OF-1A.svg Hellenic Air Force OF-1B.svg
Title Pterarchos Antipterarchos Ypopterarchos Taxiarchos Sminarchos
Antisminarchos Episminagos Sminagos Yposminagos Anthyposminagos
Greek ????????? (??? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ??????) ????????????? ????????????
????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ??????? ??????????
?????????????
Equivalent title Air Chief Marshal
or General of Armed Forces Air Marshal
or Lieutenant General Air Vice-Marshal
or Major General Air Commodore
or Brigadier General Group Captain
or Colonel Wing Commander
or Lieutenant Colonel Squadron Leader
or Major Flight Lieutenant
or Captain Flying Officer
or 1st Lieutenant Pilot Officer
or 2nd Lieutenant
NCO/Enlisted[edit]
NCO Enlisted grade structure of the Hellenic Air Force
NATO Code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-1
Insignia[29] GR-Air Force-?????????????.svg GR-Air Force-?????? ?????
?????.svg GR-Air Force-?????????? ????.svg GR-Air Force-?????? ?????????.svg
GR-Air Force-????????? ????.svg GR-Air Force-?????? ??????.svg GR-Air
Force-?????? ????.svg GR-Air Force-???????? ??????.svg GR-Air Force-????
????? ????.svg GR-Air Force-??????? ????.svg No insignia
Title Anthypaspistis Archisminias Archisminias
Emth-???-Epop Episminias Episminias
Emth-Epop Sminias Sminias
Emth-Epop Klirotos
Sminias Yposminias
EPOP Sminitis
EPOP Sminitis
Greek ????????????? ?????????? ??????????
???-???-???? ????????? ?????????
???-???? ?????? ??????
???-???? ????????
?????? ?????????
???? ???????
???? ???????
Equivalent
rank Warrant Officer Chief Master Sergeant Master Sergeant Staff Sergeant
Corporal Airman
Equipment[edit]
According to Hellenic Ministry of National Defence the HAF operates a total of 440+
aircraft of all types. Following the retirement of the A-7 Corsair and RF-4E
Phantom II fleet, HAF currently operates 233 modern combat aircraft with 199 being
fourth-generation fighters. Numbers in service are drawn from references [30] and
are valid as of December 2015.[31]

Aircraft[edit]
Current inventory[edit]

An F-16 landing at RAIT

An ERJ-135LR in Luxembourg

A Super Puma helicopter for the CSAR mission

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Mirage 2000 France multirole 2000EG/5 MkII 16 / 25 [32]
F-4 Phantom II United States multirole F-4E 34[32]
F-16 Fighting Falcon United States multirole F-16C 114[32]
Pegasus Greece UAV Pegasus II 4 [33]
AWACS
Embraer E-99 Brazil AEW&C 4[32]
Aerial Firefighting
Bombardier CL-415 Canada water bomber 7[32] one aircraft is
dedicated for the SAR mission
Bombardier CL-215 Canada water bomber 11[32]
Electronic Aircraft
Lockheed C-130 United States electronic warfare C-130H 2[32]
Transport
Alenia C-27J Italy transport 8[32]
Lockheed C-130 United States tactical airlift C-130B/H 11[32]
Helicopters
Bell 205 United States utility 12[32]
Eurocopter AS332 France utility / CSAR 12[32]
Trainer Aircraft
T-6 Texan United States basic trainer T-6A 45[32]
T-2 Buckeye United States trainer T-2C/E 40[32]
Mirage 2000 France multirole 2000EG 2[32]
F-16 Fighting Falcon United States conversion trainer F-16D 40[32]
Retired and historical aircraft[edit]
PZL P.24
Gloster Gladiator
Hawker Hurricane
Henschel Hs 126
Supermarine Spitfire
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Grumman HU-16 Albatross
Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Cessna T-37 Tweet
Nord Noratlas
Dassault Mirage F1
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
Canadair Sabre
Republic F-84 Thunderjet
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter
LTV A-7 Corsair II
RF-4E
YS-11
Weapons inventory[edit]
AIM-120C-5/7 AMRAAM : 280
AIM-120B AMRAAM : 240[34]
AIM-9M Sidewinder : 165
AIM-9L/I1 Sidewinder : 300
AIM-9L/I Sidewinder : 400
AIM-9P4 Sidewinder (upgraded P3 and J-Sidewinder) : 1,000
MBDA MICA : 300
IRIS-T : 350 (with 90 joint helmet mounted cueing systems)
R550 Magic-2 : 300
Exocet AM-39 Block 2 : 36
SCALP EG : 90
Bombkapsel 90 AFDS : 70
AGM-65G2 : 200
AGM-65A/B : 200+ (?)
AGM-88B Block IIIA : 84
AGM-154C JSOW : 40
GBU-8B HOBOS : 96
GBU-12 & GBU-16 Paveway II : 1,162
GBU-24 Paveway III : 200
GBU-27 Paveway III : 250
JDAM : 100
Enhanced Paveway II : 50
Navigation and targeting pods[edit]
DB-110: 2 (RECON)
LANTIRN-AWNP (F-16 Block 50D & 52+): 23
LANTIRN-TP (F-16 Block 50D & 52+): 23
LITENING targeting pod F-4E AUP: 15
A-7E/TA-7C LANA Night Navigation Pods: ?
ASTAC ELINT-SIGINT: 4 ( RF-4)
Anti-aircraft systems[edit]
Greek air defences are oriented almost exclusively towards Turkey. Greece most
probably operates the most dense air defense system infrastructure among NATO
states. Turkey currently lacks long range system like the ones operated by Greece,
but will soon purchase them. TOR M-1 and Skyguard-Aspide types owned by Cyprus are
said by Turkey to be operated by Greek forces. Russian anti-aircraft missiles based
originally in Crete were meant for Cyprus, but had to be relocated to Greek
mainland due to the Cyprus Missile Crisis when Turkey threatened war (casus belli)
if the missiles were installed on Cyprus.

Patriot PAC II/ PAC III AA missile system: 6 Batterries / 36 launchers / 325
missiles (as of 2004 installed near Athens, Thessaloniki and on the island of
Skyros[35])
S-300 PMU1 AA missile system: 1 Battery / 8 launchers / 39 missiles (installed on
the island of Crete)
SKYGUARD/VELOS AA system: 20 launchers / 280 missiles / 24 Oerlikon-35 Guns
Crotale NG/GR AA missile system: 9 launchers
TOR M1 AA missile system: 4 launchers
Stinger portable AA missile: unknown number of launchers / 300 missiles
Artemis 30 30 mm AA guns: 38
Rheinmetall 202 Mk20 : 326
Aircraft markings and camouflage[edit]
The primary camouflage scheme utilized by the Hellenic Air Force is the Aegean
Ghost (Greek: ??????? ??? ???????) scheme. This is modified slightly for each
aircraft type but is standard for all combat and transport aircraft in the
inventory. Some training, search-and-rescue, and firefighting aircraft are colored
partially or completely in high-visibility colors for identification and easier
location in case of an accident. The air force also frequently uses colorful
commemorative schemes to mark anniversaries and other special occasions or for
display purposes. National markings are applied to all aircraft, with the national
roundel consisting of concentric blue, white, and blue rings displayed on the
fuselage sides and wing surfaces and a tricolor fin flash of similar blue, white,
and blue horizontal stripes on the rudder. The words ??????? ????????? (or simply
the abbreviation ??) are applied to the fuselage as well, although this is less
common in current schemes. Aircraft in Aegean Ghost scheme may have low visibility
markings applied in which blue is replaced by dark grey and white by light grey.

Originally, many aircraft in service retained the basic color scheme they were
acquired in. Prior to World War II, combat aircraft were given a green and brown
top scheme with white or sky blue underside, similar to the Royal Air Force. After
the war, jet fighter aircraft such as the Sabre and Starfighter would serve in a
polished metal scheme. Later, most aircraft received green and brown camouflage
again, consistent with the United States Air Force's South East Asia scheme,
referred to as Vietnam camouflage in Greece. A-7 Corsair IIs would be some of the
last aircraft to fly with this scheme, retaining it until their retirement, long
after all-over grey schemes had become the normal application for Greek aircraft.
C-130 Hercules transports which used South East Asia early in their careers were
repainted in an overall grey theme.

standard roundel

low visibility roundel

fin flash
polished metal

brown and green scheme

C-130 grey scheme

SAR with orange panels

demonstration scheme
Aircraft accidents and incidents[edit]
Main article: List of aviation accidents and incidents in Greece
The worst accident in the history of the Hellenic Air Force occurred on February 5,
1991 when Lockheed C-130H Hercules s/n 748 crashed into Mount Othrys during the
landing approach to Nea Anchialos. Sixty-three people were killed.

Gallery[edit]

Aviator Aristeidis Moraitinis, 1917

Greek aviators at the San Stefano airfield after the Armistice of Mudros, 1918

RHAF Canadair Sabre 2 in 1955.

Pilot uniform of the 1960s

An old F-104G of the Hellenic Air Force.

A Hellenic Air Force f-104 Starfighter (Tanagra Military Airport).

F-16C Block 50 in Tanagra Air Base.

A Hellenic Air Force Dassault Mirage F1CG displayed at the 2008 HAF air show,
Tanagra airbase, Greece.

Mirage 2000-5Mk.2 of the Hellenic Air Force.

TA-7C Corsair II

A Greek F-4 Phantom leaves Aviano Air Base.

Cessna T-41D Mescalero of 360 squadron used by the Hellenic Air Force Academy.

C-130H Hercules tactical transport aircraft of 356 squadron.

Aircraft maintenance hangar of 335 Squadron, Araxos Air Base.

CL-415 water bomber of 383 squadron.

Formation of two P-3B Orion maritime patrol aircraft of 353 squadron over Athens,
overflying the military parade of 2007-03-25.

T-2E Buckeye jet trainer of 120 Wing.

AF AS.332 Super Puma SAR helicopter.

AS.332 Super Puma of the Hellenic Air Force, operated for Search and Rescue (SAR).

A Mirage 2000BGM of the Hellenic Air Force immediately after take off.

An F-16D Block 30 of the 346 Squadron "Jason".

A Hellenic Air Force F-4E PI2000.

Mirage 2000-5Mk.2 of the Hellenic Air Force.

SAR AB-205A of the 358 Squadron "Phaethon".

C-27J Spartan of the 354 Squadron "Pegasus". HAF operates 8 of those aircraft.

EMB-145H of the 380 AEW&C Squadron during Tanagra Air Show.

C-130H of the 355 Squadron "Hercules" with special paint scheme.

An F-16D Block 52+ of the 343 Squadron "Star" with Conformal Fuel Tanks.
See also[edit]
List of flying aces from Greece
Hellenic Air Force Academy
Hellenic Aerospace Industry
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "Hellenic Air Force/History". Haf.gr. Archived from the original on July
18, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
Jump up ^ As a separate service. Army Aviation established in 1911
Jump up ^ Piekalkiewicz, Janusz; Van Heurck, Jan (1985). The air war, 1939-1945.
Blandford Press. ISBN 978-0-918678-05-8.
^ Jump up to: a b "Hellenic Air Force History Greco-Italian War ... German
Invasion;". www.haf.gr. Archived from the original on December 12, 2008. Retrieved
February 6, 2010.
Jump up ^ Carr, John (2012). On Spartan Wings. Barnsley, SY, Pens & Sword Military.
p. 45. ISBN 978-1-84884-798-9.
Jump up ^ Carr, John (2012). On Spartan Wings. Barnsley, SY, Pens & Sword Military.
p. 171. ISBN 978-1-84884-798-9.
Jump up ^ "Hellenic Air Force History Middle East;". www.haf.gr. Retrieved
February 6, 2010.
Jump up ^ "335 ????? ?????????;". www.haf.gr. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
Jump up ^ "330 ?????;". www.haf.gr. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
Jump up ^ "346 ?????;". www.haf.gr. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
Jump up ^ "338 ????? ?????? ?????????;". Haf.gr. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
Jump up ^ "AeroWorldNet(tm) Greece Buys 50 F-16s and 15 Mirage 2000s [May 3,
1999]". AeroWorldNet. May 3, 1999. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008.
Retrieved August 7, 2009.
Jump up ^ "Hellenic Air Force Weapons F-16C/D Block 52+ FIGHTING FALCON". Haf.gr.
Retrieved July 29, 2009.
Jump up ^ "340 ?????;". Haf.gr. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
Jump up ^ "??????? ???? F-16 Block 52+ Advanced;". anaxfiles.blogspot.com. March
19, 2009. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
Jump up ^ "??????? ???? F-16 Block 52+ Advanced;". http://anaxfiles.blogspot.com.
Retrieved February 9, 2010. External link in |publisher= (help)
Jump up ^ "????????????? ?? ?????????? ??? F-16 Adv. ???? 335?;".
http://www.defencenet.gr. Retrieved February 9, 2010. External link in |publisher=
(help)
Jump up ^ "DefenceNet ???? ???????? - ??? ???? - ??? ?? ??????
? ??? ???? ????????? ??????????? 6 ????????????? (?????)". Defencenet.gr.
Retrieved February 6, 2011.
Jump up ^ Amikam Nachmani, International intervention in the Greek Civil War: the
United Nations Special Committee on the Balkans 1947-1952, 1990
Jump up ^ Thanos Veremis, The military in Greek politics: from independence to
democracy, 1997
Jump up ^ Veremis, 1997
Jump up ^ http://www.balkanalysis.com/greece/2012/02/19/greece-and-turkey-
offensive-and-defensive-balance-of-air-power-in-2012/
Jump up ^ "HAF organization". Koti.welho.com. Archived from the original on August
29, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
Jump up ^ "Hellenic Tactical Air Force". Haf.gr. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
Jump up ^ http://aviationweek.com/awindefense/greece-retires-rf-4-photo-phantom
Jump up ^ D. Manakanatos (October 2013). Hellenic Defence and Technology.
Peristeri, Greece: Dyros Ltd: 6571. Missing or empty |title= (help)
Jump up ^ "Hellenic Air Force Air Support Command". Haf.gr. Retrieved July 29,
2009.
Jump up ^ "Hellenic Air Force Air Training Command". Haf.gr. July 30, 1955.
Retrieved July 29, 2009.
Jump up ^ Hellenic Airforce Ranks
Jump up ^ World Air Forces 2014 December 10, 2013
Jump up ^ "World Air Forces 2013". Flightglobal.com, December 11, 2012.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "World Air Forces 2018". Flightglobal
Insight. 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
Jump up ^ https://national-pride.org/2013/03/27/uav-male-%CF%80%CE%AE%CE%B3%CE
%B1%CF%83%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B9%CE%B9-to-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF
%8C-%CE%BC%CE%B7-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B4%CF%81%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE
%BF/
Jump up ^ "????? & ?????????? 14. ???? & ???????? ???????? ??????????".
Amynanet.gr. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
Jump up ^ [1]
Further reading[edit]
George J. Beldecos et al. Hellenic Wings: An Illustrated History of the Hellenic
Air Force and its Precursors - 1908-1944, pub. Air Historical Branch (HAF), 1st
edition (1999)
A. Tsagaratos (Editor): Hellenic Air Force Yearbook 2010/B, Special Projects,
Athens, Greece, ISSN 1790-4102 (2011). Page 8 contains a summary Order of Battle
and a summary aircraft inventory, as of December 2010.
Carr, John On Spartan Wings, Barnsley, SY, Pens & Sword Military, 2012. ISBN 978-1-
84884-798-9.
"World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week &
Space Technology, January 15, 2007
The Library of Congress Country Studies, CIA World Factbook
Greece The Hellenic Air Force
E. A. Pagotsis (2008). Hellenic Defence Review 20082009. Athens: Line Defence
Public Ltd. pp. 128159. External link in |publisher= (help)
Aircraft Inventory (Greek)
Bibliography[edit]
Carr, John, On Spartan Wings, Barnsley, SY: Pens & Sword Military, 2012. ISBN 978-
1-84884-798-9.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hellenic Air Force.
Hellenic Air Force Official Website
Minister of National Defence Website
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Categories: Hellenic Air ForceMilitary units and formations established in 19111911
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