The Government Council on Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) of Greece has approved the purchase of 20 fifth-generation F-35 multirole fighter jets from the United States, as well as several other equipment programs, reports in Kathimerini, cited by BTA. p>
The decision is a formality after the country's parliament approved the purchase late last month, but it marks the beginning of perhaps Greece's most significant arms purchase - a process expected to take several years and cost initially $3.54 billion, the publication notes.
The approval of KYSEA, which was given at a meeting yesterday, will be followed by the signing of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance of Offer (LOA), which the US government submitted in April. Greece must sign this document, which is the legal equivalent of a contract, by the end of July.
Before the first Greek Air Force pilots go to the US for F-35 pilot training, which won't happen before 2028 at the earliest, Greece needs to modernize the air base in Andravida, Western Peloponnese.
The newspaper notes that the upgrade will be "substantial" as the base currently operates F-4 Phantoms, which the Greek Air Force has been using for more than half a century and which are three or four generations older in technological attitude.
In this sense, the success of the adaptation of the facilities is not guaranteed: the Rafale aircraft bought by France are located in facilities that do not meet all their technical requirements, the publication states.
KYSEA also approved the purchase of three unmanned helicopters, which will be deployed on the three new frigates that Greece will buy in 2025 and 2026. In addition, participants in the council meeting discussed cyber security, migration and civil protection in the context of increased risk from forest fires.