F-35 puts Phantom to rest

he Greek government offi cially

Tsubmitted a Letter of Request to the US on June 29, 2022 for procurement of 20 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fi fthgeneration multi-role stealth fi ghters after a long evaluation process.

The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) intends to operate the F-35A as a replacement for its McDonnell Douglas F-4E (AUP) Phantom IIs. The HAF’s 338 Mira (Squadron) currently operates half of the 36 F-4Es that were upgraded under the Peace Icarus 2000 program. They are set to remain in service until the fi rst F-35As are delivered in 2027.

End of an era

For years, the HAF’s F-4E (AUP) Phantom IIs were operated by 338 and 339 Mira at Andravida Air Base. The former specialized in air-to-ground missions, while the latter’s main task was focused on air-to-air missions. With the decline in number of operational F-4Es in the 117th Tactical Wing at Andravida, 339 Mira was disbanded and its eight mission-ready F-4Es were absorbed by 338 Mira, which had 10-12 F-4Es in 2017.

Decisions were made by Hellenic Air Force commanders to maintain a fl eet of 18 F-4E Phantom IIs in service with 338 Mira. In order to achieve this goal, a number of F-4Es which had reached the end of their meantime between overhaul (MBTO) were decommissioned to be cannibalized at both Andravida and at the Hellenic Aerospace Industries facility in Tanagra. Thanks to the parts harvested, the HAF managed to keep a 70% aircraft availability rate with 338 Mira to meet the needs of the Hellenic Armed Forces strike force.

With the decline in number of available F-4Es for cannibalization, spare parts and J79-GE-17C engines had to be procured from US, mainly provided from the stock of the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron Detachment 1 of the USAF, which had its fi nal QF-4Es retired in December 2016. After the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF), the HAF has the largest fl eet of combat-ready F-4E Phantom IIs thanks to these parts.

Capable of carrying an 18,650lb payload, the F-4E all-weather multi-role fi ghter jet has provided a formidable strike capability for HAF for several decades. After the F-4E modernization, it became capable of using the 15 Rafael Litening II electro-optical (EO) and targeting pods, which were received in 2004 and 2005. Thanks to these pods, Hellenic Phantom IIs have been capable of using precision-guided bombs since 2004, in addition to their AGM-65A/B Maverick air-to-ground missiles.

Like all other HAF fi ghter squadrons, 338 Mira can conduct Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions in support of the Hellenic Armed Forces. Its F-4Es armed with GBU12 and GBU-16 Paveway II and GBU-24 Paveway III laser-guided bombs can carry out not just airstrikes against land-based targets but also against those in the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea regions in support of Hellenic Army and Navy missions whenever required.

A Rafael Litening II-equipped F-4E of the HAF can be seen during a quick check prior to a training mission from Andravida Air Base All images: Babak Taghvaee

A historic deal sees Greece opt for the Lightning II as a replacement for its ageing F-4E fl eet, writes Babak Taghvaee F-35 PUTS

PHANTOMS TO REST

New role for the F-35As

The F-35A Lightning II has replaced or is in the process of replacing F-4E Phantom IIs in several air forces around the world. It can carry a maximum payload of 17,989lb weapons in its internal weapons bay and under its wings, which is near to the maximum weapon payload of the F-4E.

Delivery of the S-400 long-range air defense system to the Turkish Air Force in 2019 following a $2.5bn deal from 2017 and the recent threats caused by the military activities of Turkish Armed Forces, including a signifi cant rise in the number of incursions of Turkish F-16s into the Athens FIR has resulted in selection of the F-35A for procurement as future backbone of HAF’s strike force.

Within the past few years, the Lightning II has been used by both the USAF and US Air National Guard as a fi ghter jet with a secondary SEAD/DEAD role due to its stealth capabilities. The crews who are fl ying the F-35As are trained to carry out air operations against enemy air defense and radar systems using their precisionguided bombs.

Since May 2022, the US Air National Guard has also used them to perform daily patrols over Poland and Romania, during which these F-35As – armed with precision-guided bombs – have been ready to protect other NATO air assets from the danger posed by Russian air defense systems, especially the S-400s stationed in Belarus, on the eastern fl ank of NATO.

Greece has also recently selected the AGM-88E AARGM tactical air-to-surface anti-radiation missile for its 84 F-16C/D Block 72s (F-16V). The missile, which is the new generation of AGM-88B HARM currently in use by the HAF’s 341 and 343 Mira, will also improve the SEAD/DEAD capabilities of the Greek air arm.

The end of F-4E operations

During his visit to the US in May, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis negotiated with US government offi cials, including US President Joe Biden, regarding the purchase of F-35As. On June 30, 2022 – a day after the Greek government approved the procurement of the F-35A – Mitsotakis announced that the country had submitted a Letter of Request to the US to purchase a squadron of 20 F-35As, with options to buy additional aircraft.

According to Mitsotakis, the HAF should receive its fi rst batch of F-35As in 2027 or 2028. They will replace F-4Es in service of 338 Mira. Until that time, the squadron, which has recently turned 70 years old, will continue operating F-4E Phantom IIs.

In addition to HAF, the air forces of Iran, South Korea and Turkey are still operating F-4E Phantom IIs, with the IRIAF, ROKAF and THK having kept 47, 16 and 15 of them in operational cycle respectively. While the HAF has 13 of its 18 F-4Es operational simultaneously, the IRIAF, ROKAF and THK have 31, 11 and 9 of theirs in a similar state of readiness.

The ROKAF and HAF plan to retire their F-4Es in 2023 and 2027, while the IRIAF and Turkish Air Force will continue operating them for a longer period until a replacement can be found.

The current rise in the number of incursions of the Athens airspace by Turkish Air Force and the recent threats made by Turkish government offi cials regarding the sovereignty of the Greek Islands has led to restrictions in the sale of F-16Vs to Turkey and modernization of current F-16C/Ds of the Turkish Air Force. On July 14, 2022, the US House of Representatives approved legislation barring the delivery of F-16Vs as well as upgrade kits to Turkey for its existing fl eet of F-16C/Ds if the Turkish government fails to guarantee that they will not be used against Greece.

Above: Overhauled by HAI in 2019, 01518 is currently one of the 13 operational F-4Es of 338 Mira which will fl y until end of its MTBO

Below: Two Italian Air Force F-35As from 13° Gruppo taxi at Andravida Air Base during the Iniochos military exercise