H.A.F. - ANY TIME, ANY PLACE

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The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) (Greek: Πολεμική Αεροπορία (ΠΑ), Polemikí Aeroporía) is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect the Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy as well as humanitarian aid (upon request) in Greece and around the world.

During the period of monarchy (1935-1973) the force was known as the Hellenic Royal Air Force (Ελληνική Βασιλική Αεροπορία (EBA), Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía).

The motto of the Hellenic Air Force is "Αίεν Υψικρατείν" meaning "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.

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 NATO's military command structure from 1974 to 1980.

In 1988 the first fourth[1] 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 and equipped the 331 and 332 squadrons. In January 1989, the first F-16C/D Block 30 arrived in Nea Anchialos (111 Combat Wing) and were allocated between the 330 and 346 squadrons.

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

In 1997 the reception of fourth generation aircraft continued. In July, delivery of forty F-16 Block 50 began. The new aircraft, equipped with the LANTIRN navigation and targeting pod as well as AMRAAM and HARM missiles, were allocated to the 341 and 347 squadrons.


Entering the 21st century

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 purchace any more aircraft with nuclear mounting capabilities.

In September 2004 started the Mirage 2000BG/EG fleet upgrade to the standard 2000-5 Mk2 and the project was undertaken by the French manufacturer Dassault and the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAB). Fifteen aircraft were ordered, while ten more were undertaken for upgrade by Dassault and EAB. The enhancements include upgraded radar and avionics, air-refueling capabilities, new self-defense system and upgraded engine, while the cockpit has taken some serious reforms.

In 2005, Greece was among the first countries to add the F-16 Block 52+ to its inventory. Ninety of these 4.5th generation aircraft were ordered and delivery begun the same year. This advanced F-16 type is an improved version of the Block 50 featuring a more powerful radar, better communications systems and an upgraded engine. The Hellenic Air Force's Block 52+ belong to the 337, 340 and 343 Squadrons with call signs "Ghost", "Fox" and "Star" respectively. 337 SQ is based at Larissa Air Force Base (110 Combat Wing) and the other two in Souda AB (115 CW).

In 2007, the Hellenic Air Force has a total fighter fleet of 275 modern or upgraded aircraft and due to retirement of units that have ended their circle of operation, is looking forward to acquiring new 4th, 4.5th or 5th generation fighters in order to reach a total number of 300 advanced fighters, according to the "2007 Supreme Air Force Council Momentum" published in 2007. Such goal is to be gradually reached until 2015. Prime candidates for a 4.5th or 5th generation aircraft, of which acquisition is considered certain, are the Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II (JSF) and Dassault Rafale.

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Tags:

• HAF
• GREECE
• M2000-5
• M2000
• MIRAGE
• F-16
• viper
• fighting
• falcon
• dogfoght
• readiness
• scramble
• SCALP
• MICA
• AIM-120
• AIM-9
• TUAF

[IkarosHAF]

εχεις δικιο...Τα Rafale κατεχουν καλυτερα ηλεκτρονικα.

[Fliperakis13]

To Rafale einai kalh protash alla 8ewrw oti to Typhoon einai polu kaluterh epilogh. To Gripen den a3izei na to anaferoume... Meta ta upgrades twn Mirage den 3erw poso xrono zwhs akomh 8a exoun alla san antikatastash to Rafale einai polu kalo... To Typhoon prepei na agorastei, 8a htan megalo la8os na mhn agorastei... Prepei na prow8h8ei giati etsi kerdizei edafos h EADS pou mas sumferei polu perissotero. Den vlepw kanenan logo na mhn to epile3oume, argoume hdh. Alla logiko me thn krish...

[Fliperakis13]

Ta F-35 den domizw na kanoun gia thn Ellada, prwta ap' ola giati den xreiazomaste vertical take-off, exoume nhsia kai ta F-35 protimountai gia aeroplanofora... Kata thn gnwmh mou, proteraiothta prepei na exei to Typhoon 4hs genias. Kai oson afora ta 5hs genias, sigoura to Typhoon uperexei apo to F-35, Epishs to F-22 profanws den 8a poulh8ei afou oute oi HPA den mporoun na to paragoun... Opote h 5h genia mporei na perimenei... Ta rwsika oute kata dianoia e3aitias tou kostous sunthrhshs..

[tasoscorsair]

yparxoun polla texnika provlimata pou den gnorizei o kosmos, to Rafale einai to pio texnologika orimo aeroskafos apo ta 2

[TheGreek117]

Οι Γάλλοι μας κάνουν μια πολύ καλή προσφορά, ωστόσο το Rafale δεν συγκρίνεται με το Eurofighter σε δυνατότητες. Θα ήταν μέγα λάθος να το επιλέξουμε ως το νέο μας αεροσκάφος. Υπάρχει παρόλ'αυτά η πιθανότητα να προμηθευτούμε και από τα 2 - ελπίζω λιγότερα Rafale.

[tasoscorsair]

to Rafale einai kalytero gia emas

[TheGreek117]

Και τα ρώσικα πατάτες είναι και τα F-15 είναι απαρχαιωμένα. Το Eurofighter Tycoon είναι μονόδρομος για την αεράμυνα. Και στο μακρινό μέλλον βλέπουμε και για μαχητικό όπως το F-35 ή γιατί όχι και F-22 αν είναι διαθέσιμο.

[grhaf100]

Emeis leme oti kai ta F-18 den einai kala.

[IkarosHAF]

Gia ta F35 kala les alla nomizw pws yparxei periptwsh na agorasoume ki emeis telika...Oso gia ta F-15 apokleiete enw ypopsifia einai kai ta F18 super Hornet ..Rwsiika den pistevw na paroume..Oxi toulaxiston sto syntomo mellon.Eseis ti lete?

[ANimouz]

Pote tha erthei i stigmi na paroume rosika aeroplana patrida... alla theloun pola kafsima kai megaliteri sintirisi apo ta F-16 gamoto. Opos to vlepo epidi piran i tourkoi F-35 pemptis genias tha paroume kai emeis ite to F-15 SE ite to PAK FA ton Rosson. Se mikrous arithmous sigoura giati exoume provlima me tin ikonomias mas. 40 aeroplana 5is genias tha mas eftanan gia na diatirithi i enaeria yperoxi pou exoume. Ta F-35 einai sketes patates.