Last week, ranking officers from the Hellenic Air Force met with a U. S delegation from the Joint Program Office, tasked with the procurement of F-35 fighter jets to discuss details about the sale of the 5th generation jets to Greece and the upgrade of the 117 Combat wing at Andravida of the Hellenic Air Force that will host the new aircraft.
Talks focused on developments surrounding Greece’s order for 20+20 F-35 Lightning II aircraft, and in particular the critical issue of facility and infrastructure security.
Once the work is completed, a special JPO committee is expected to visit the base to conduct an on-site inspection to assess the compliance with strict security regulations. Only if the committee gives the green light will the aircraft be cleared for transfer to Greece
Athens reportedly decided to undertake the full overhaul of the air base significantly reducing the costs.
The Hellenic Air Force General Staff is reportedly expected to soon commence works, with the goal of transforming the base into the most modern and best-guarded air base in southeastern Europe.
The modernization program for the 117th Wing is estimated to cost approximately €230 million. The project requires approval from parliament and the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA). According to sources, the Air Force and the JPO delegation have completed the necessary studies and outlined the required works, with the file now in the hands of the political leadership.
The first project to be implemented at Andravida will focus on securing the base’s perimeter. Works will include ground reinforcement and the installation of a new NATO-specification fence, equipped with cameras, motion sensors and advanced electro-optical systems.
Meanwhile, according to the plan, the new fighter jets will be reportedly armed with a new air-to-air missile to be put into production. The new system will be superior to the standard meteor missiles (a weapon Turkey has requested) and will offer Greece superiority in the sky.
The new weapon system, the ΑΙΜ-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), will reportedly have a 250km strike range at a speed of over 5mach.
According to well-informed sources, “Ta Nea” newspaper reports that once the first F-35 fighter arrives in Greece by the end of 2029, the Hellenic Air Force will be fit it with the latest ΑΙΜ-260 JATM, replacing the previous AIM-120 AMRAAM.
