Hellenic Air Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hellenic Air Force

"Always Dominate the Heights" Components Hellenic Air Force Structure of the Hellenic Air Force History History of the Hellenic Air Force Timeline of the Hellenic Air Force Personnel List of senior officers Officer rank insignia Enlisted rank insignia Aircraft List of Hellenic Air Force aircraft

The Hellenic Air Force or HAF (Greek: Πολεμική Αεροπορία) is the air force of Greece. Its mission 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.

Contents 1 History 2 Organization 2.1 Command 2.2 Officers Ranks and Insignia 2.3 Combat Wings 2.4 Training Wings 3 Equipment 3.1 Aircraft inventory 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History

Main article: History of the Hellenic Air Force

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. The first Greek aviator was Emmanuel Argyropoulos, who flew in a Nieuport IV.G "Alcuin" fighter, on February 8, 1912. The first military flight was made on 13 May of that year by Lieutenant Demetrios Kamberos. In June, Kamberos, flew with the "Daedalus", a Farman Aviation Works aircraft that had been converted into a seaplane, setting the foundations of the Naval Aviation. That September, the Greek Army fielded its first squadron, the Aviators Company (Λόχος Αεροπόρων).

The Hellenic Air Force participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, the Asia Minor Campaign, and World War II. Initially it consisted of the separate Army Aviation and Naval Aviation, but in 1930 the Aviation Ministry was founded, establishing the Air Force as the third branch of the Hellenic Armed Forces. In 1931, the Air Force Academy, the Scholi Ikaron was founded. During the Second World War, it successfully resisted the Italian invasion in 1940, but practically the entire force was destroyed by the Germans in April 1941. The Air Force was rebuilt in the Middle East as part of the Royal Air Force, flying Spitfires, Hurricanes and Martin Baltimores. After Greece's liberation in 1944, it returned home and subsequently participated in the Greek Civil War.

In the 1950s, the force was rebuilt and organized according to NATO standards. The Greek Air Force participated in the Korean War with a transport flight unit. Greece participated in NATO nuclear weapons sharing until 2001, using A-7 Corsair IIs to deploy U.S. tactical B61 nuclear bombs from Araxos Air Base.

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 3rd generation fighters were introduced, marking the beginning of a new era: The first Mirrage 2000 EG/BG aircraft were delivered to the 114th Combat Wing and equipped the 331 and 332 squadrons.

In January 1989, the first F-16C/D Block 30 arrived in Nea Agchialos (111th 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 third generation aircraft continued. In July, delivery of forty F-16 Block 50 begun. 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.

In 2005, Greece was among the first countries to add the F-16 Block 52+ to its inventory. Sixty of these aircraft were acquired and another thirty are currently in order. 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).

Today, the Hellenic Air Force has a total fighter fleet of 275 modern, upgraded or under upgrade aircraft and due to retirment of some fighter units that have ended their circle of oparation, is looking forward to acquiring new 3rd and 4rh generation fighters in order to reach a total number of 300 modern fighters, according to the "2007 Supreme Air Force Counsil Momentum" published earlier this year. Such goal is to be gradually reached until 2015. Prime candidates for a 4th generation aircraft, of which acquisition is considered certain, are the Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II (JSF) and Dassault Rafale.

[edit] Organization

Main article: Structure of the Hellenic Air Force

The Hellenic Air Force is overseen by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, whose current head is minister Vangelis Meimarakis.

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 School of Basic and Advanced Fighter Training and the School of Advanced War Training (TOP GUN), run by the Training Directorate of the Air Force Training Command.

[edit] Command

• Year Founded  : 1912
• Ministry  : National Defence
• Minister  : Evagelos Meimarakis
• Air Force Command  : Air Marshal John Yagos
• Chief of Air Operations  : Air Marshal Theologos Simeonidis
• Directorate of Aeronautical Support  : Air Vice-Marshal Vasilios Tzinaetis
• Directorate of Aeronautical Training  : Air Vice-Marshal Athanasios Karamitsos

[edit] Officers Ranks and Insignia

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF-D-	Student Officer
Greece (Edit)	No equivalent
		Pterarchos	Antipterarchos	Ypopterarchos	Taxiarchos	Sminarchos	Antisminarchos	Episminagos	Sminagos	Yposminagos	Anthiposminagos

[edit] Combat Wings

• 110th Combat Wing (110 Πτέρυγα Μάχης)
  • 337th Fighter Squadron (337 Μοίρα) - Flies the F-16 C/D Block 52+
  • 346th Fighter Squadron "Jason" (346 Μοίρα Ιασών) - Flies the F-16C/D Block 30
  • 348th Fighter Squadron "Eyes" (348 Μοίρα Μάτια) - Flies the RF-4E Phantom II

• 111th Combat Wing (111 Πτέρυγα Μάχης)
  • 330th Fighter Squadron "Thunder" (330 Μοίρα "Κεραύνος") - Flies the F-16C/D Block 30
  • 341st Fighter Squadron "Ace" (341 Μοίρα "Άσσος") - Flies the F-16C/D Block 50
  • 347th Fighter Squadron "Perseus" (347 Μοίρα "Περσεύς") - Flies the F-16C/D Block 50

• 114th Combat Wing (114 Πτέρυγα Μάχης)
  • 331st Fighter Squadron "Aigeas" (331 Μοίρα "Αιγέας") - Flies the Mirage 2000-5 Mk2
  • 332nd Fighter Squadron "Falcon" (332 Μοίρα "Γεράκι") - Flies the Mirage 2000BG/EG

• 115th Combat Wing (115 Πτέρυγα Μάχης)
  • 340th Fighter Squadron "Fox" (340 Μοίρα "Αλεπού") - Flies the F-16C/D Block 52+
  • 343rd Fighter Squadron "Star" (343 Μοίρα "Αστέρι") - Flies the F-16C/D Block 52+

• 116th Combat Wing (116 Πτέρυγα Μάχης), based in Araxos, prefecture of Achaia
  • 335 Bomber Squadron "Tigers" (335 Μοίρα Βομβαρδισμών "Τίγρεις") - Flies A-7E/TA-7C Corsair II
  • 336 Bomber Squadron "Hawk" (336 Μοίρα Βομβαρδισμών "Γεράκι") - Flies A-7H/TA-7H Corsair II

• 117th Combat Wing (117 Πτέρυγα Μάχης), based in Andravida, prefecture of Ilia
  • 338 Fighter Squadron "Aris" (338 Μοίρα Αναχαίτησης "Άρης") - Flies F-4E Phantom II (Peace Icarus 2000 Upgrades)
  • 339 Fighter Squadron "Ajax" (338 Μοίρα Αναχαίτησης "Αίας") - Flies F-4E Phantom II (Peace Icarus 2000 Upgrades)

[edit] Training Wings

• 124 Basic Training Wing (124 Πτέρυγα Βασικής Εκπαίδευσης), localted in Tripoli, Arcadia.
  • 1st Trainee SQ (1η Mοίρα Εκπαίδευσης Νεοσυλλέκτων)
  • 2nd Trainee SQ (2η Mοίρα Εκπαίδευσης Νεοσυλλέκτων)
  • 3rd Trainee SQ (3η Mοίρα Εκπαίδευσης Νεοσυλλέκτων)
  • Local Defence Trainee SQ (Mοίρα Εκπαίδευσης Τοπικής Άμυνας)

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Aircraft inventory

Aircraft and Helicopters	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[1]	Total Numbers	Notes
Alenia C-27J Spartan	Italy	Transport	C-27J	12
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	Transport	C-130B C-130H	5 10	15
Gulfstream V	United States	VIP Transport	G500	1
Embraer ERJ-135	Brazil	VIP Transport	ERJ-135ER	2
Embraer EMB-145	Brazil	Airborne Early Warning (AEW&C)	EMB-145SA	4		also known as "Ericsson Erieye"
Lockheed P-3 Orion	United States	Maritime Patrol	P-3B	4		2 more retired and used for spare parts
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II	United States	Reconnaissance Fighter	RF-4E	21
Vought A-7 Corsair II	United States	Ground Attack	A-7E TA-7C A-7H TA-7H	37 15 20 5	77
Dassault Mirage 2000	France	Fighter	2000BG 2000EG 2000-5 Mk2	3 17 25	45
Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	Fighter	F-16C F-16D	104 28	132	versions operating: block 30/50/52+ plus 30 block 52+ on order
Cessna 172 Skyhawk	United States	Trainer	T-41D	20
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II	United States	Trainer	T-6A	45
Rockwell T-2 Buckeye	United States	Trainer	T-2C T-2E	5 35	40
Canadair CL-215	Canada	Firefighting		13
Canadair CL-415	Canada	Firefighting	415GR	10
PZL-Mielec M-18 Dromader	Poland	Firefighting	M-18 M-18AS	19 3	22
Dornier Do-28	Germany	Utility Aircraft	Do 28D	8		under retirement
Agusta A109	Italy	MEDEVAC Helicopter	A-109 Power	3
Eurocopter Cougar	France	Combat SAR & SAR Helicopter	AS-532 AS-332	6 4	10	also known as "Super Puma"
Bell 212	Italy	VIP Helicopter	Bell-212	4
Bell 205	Italy	SAR Helicopter	AB-205	11		built by Agusta
Bell 47	United States	Utility Helicopter	47G	7

Retired & Historical Aircrafts

• Hurricane
• Spitfire
• C-47 Skytrain
• T-33 Shooting Star
• F-86 Sabre
• F-84 Thundersteak
• F-102 Delta Dagger
• F-104 Starfighter
• F-5 Freedom Fighter
• T-37 Tweety Bird
• Mirage F-1

Weapons Inventory

• AIM-120 AMRAAM
• AIM-9M
• AIM-9L
• AIM-9P4 (upgraded P3 and J-Sidewinder)
• MBDA MICA
• IRIS-T
• MAGIC II
• AM-39 EXOCET Block 2
• MBDA SCALP EG
• AFDS
• AGM-65G
• AGM-65A
• AGM-65B
• AGM-88B Block IIIA
• GBU-8B HOBOS
• GBU-12 Paveway II
• GBU-16 Paveway II
• GBU-24 Paveway III
• GBU-27 Paveway III

Anti-aircraft Systems

• PATRIOT PAC III [1]
• S-300 PMU1 [2]
• SKYGUARD/VELOS [3]
• CROTALE NG/GR [4]
• TOR M1 [5]
• STINGER [6]
• ΑRTEMIS 30 [7]
• RHEINMETAL

The camo extensively used is the Aegean Ghost theme (Φάντασμα του Αιγαίου). Note that Greece has placed an order for 20 additional F-16C Block 52+ and 10 F-16D Block 52+ aircraft [8]. Also, the purchase of modern fourth generation fighters is likely to follow due to the A-7 Corsairs being gradually retired from service. The prime candidates are the Eurofighter Typhoon , the F-35 Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter) and the French Rafale.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Greek Air Force - Official site
• Aircraft inventory (greek)
• Hellenic Air Force Photo Album (unofficial)

Military of Greece
Hellenic Navy | Hellenic Army | Hellenic Air Force