Hellenic Air Force Πολεμική Αεροπορία |
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Hellenic Air Force Seal |
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Founded | 1930 as a separate service,[1] Army Aviation established in 1911 |
Country | Greece |
Role | National Defence & Air Superiority |
Size | approx. 33,000 personnel
510+ aircraft 8 types of air defence systems |
Part of | Hellenic Armed Forces |
Patron | Archangels Michael and Gabriel |
Motto | Αἰὲν Ὑψικρατεῖν "Always Dominate the Heights" |
Colors | Blue / White |
Engagements | Balkan Wars World War I Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) World War II Greek Civil War Korean War Turkish invasion of Cyprus War on Terror 2011 military intervention in Libya |
Commanders | |
Chief of Air Force General Staff | Air Marshal Antonios Tsantirakis |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol |
ΠΑ |
HAF Roundel | |
HAF Fin Flash | |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack | F-16, Mirage 2000, Mirage 2000-5 Mk2, F-4E Phantom II |
Bomber | A-7 Corsair II |
Fighter | F-16 Fighting Falcon |
Interceptor | Mirage 2000, Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 |
Reconnaissance | Embraer E-99A, RF-4E, Pegasus II, P-3 Orion |
Trainer | T-41, T-6 Texan II, T-2 |
Transport | C-27J, C-130, C-47, ERJ-135, Gulfstream V, Bell 212, Super Puma, Bell 205, CL-212/415 Canadair |
The Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated to HAF (Greek: Πολεμική Αεροπορία, Polemikí Aeroporía, literally "Military Aviation") is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the world. The Hellenic Air Force includes approximately 33,000 active troops, of whom 11,750 are career officers, 14,000 are professional conscripts (ΕΠ.ΟΠ.), 7,250 are volunteer conscripts and 1,100 are women. During the period of monarchy between 1935–1973 the force was known as the Royal Hellenic Air Force (Greek: Ἑλληνικὴ Βασιλικὴ Ἀεροπορία, Ellinikí Vasilikí Aeroporía). The motto of the Hellenic Air Force is the ancient Greek phrase Αἰὲν Ὑψικρατεῖν (Aièn Hypsikrateîn), "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.
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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.All of the six graduated from the Farman school in Étampes near Paris, but only four served subsequently in aviation. The first civilian Greek aviator who was given military rank was Emmanuel Argyropoulos, who flew in a Nieuport IV.G. "Alkyon" aircraft, on February 8, 1912.
The first military flight was made on May 13, 1912 by Lieutenant Dimitrios Kamberos. In June, Kamberos flew with the "Daedalus", a Farman Aviation Works aircraft that had been converted into a seaplane, setting a new world average speed record at 110 km/h (68 mph) and the foundations of Naval Aviation. During September of the same year, the Greek Army fielded its first squadron, the "Aviators Company" (Λόχος Αεροπόρων).
On October 5, 1912, Kamberos flew the first combat mission, a reconnaissance flight over Thessaly.This was the first day of the Balkan wars, and during the same day a similar mission was flown by German mercenaries in Ottoman service in the Thrace front against the Bulgarians.The Greek and the Ottoman mission flown during the same day are the first military aviation combat missions in a conventional war.As a matter of fact all Balkan countries used military aircraft and foreign mercenaries during the Balkan Wars. January 24, 1913 saw the first naval co-operation war mission worldwide, which took place above the Dardanelles. Aided by the destroyer Velos, first Lieutenant Michael Moutoussis and Ensign Aristeidis Moraitinis flew the Maurice Farman hydroplane and drew up a diagram of the positions of the Turkish fleet, against which they dropped four bombs. This was not the first air-to-surface bombing in military history as there was a precedent in the Turkish Italian war of 1911, but the first recorded attack against ships from the air.
Initially, the Hellenic Army and the Royal Hellenic Navy operated separate Army Aviation and Naval Aviation units. During the Balkan Wars, various French Henry and Maurice Farman aircraft types were in use. Naval Aviation was officially founded in 1914 by the then CinC of the Greek Navy, British Admiral Mark Kerr. Greek aviation units participated in World War I and the Asia Minor Campaign, equipped by the Allies with a variety of French and British designs.
In 1930, the Aviation Ministry was founded, establishing the Air Force as the third branch of the Armed Forces. The Hellenic Army Air Service and Hellenic Naval Air Service were amalgamated into a single service, the Hellenic Air Force. In 1931 the Hellenic Air Force Academy, the Scholi Ikaron (Σχολή Ικάρων), was founded.
In 1939, an order for 24 Marcel Bloch MB.151 fighter aircraft was placed, but only 9 of the aircraft reached Greece, since the outbreak of World War II prevented the French from completing the order. The aircraft served in the 24th Pursuit Squadron (MD – Moira Dioxis) of the then Hellenic Royal Air Force.
During the Second World War, although being severely outnumbered, counting only 79 aircraft against the 380 fighters and bombers available to the Italian Regia Aeronautica,[2] RHAF managed to successfully resist the Italian invasion in 1940. On November 2, 1940, a Breguet 19 intercepted the Italian Mountaineers Division "Julia" while it was penetrating Pindos mountain range and moving on to occupy Metsovo. At the same day, Second Lieutanand Marinos Mitralexis, being out of ammunition, aimed the nose of his PZL P.24 right into an enemy Cant Z1007bis tail, smashing the rudder and sending the bomber out of control.[3] On March 1941 the Italian invasion was confronted successfully. During the Greco-Italian War the Hellenic Air Force shot down 64 enemy aircraft (confirmed) and claimed another 24. In April 1941 the German Wehrmacht invaded Greece to assist her Italian allies. The Luftwaffe destroyed almost the entire Greek Air force; some aircraft managed to escape in the Middle East. The top ace of Hellenic Air Force was Andreas Antoniou with 5.5 victories.[3]
Five Avro Anson, one Dornier Do 22 and three Avro 626 escaped. Hellenic aviation was rebuilt under the Air Force Ministry based in Cairo. Three Hellenic squadrons were built, which were operating under the command of the British RAF. These squadrons were the 13th Light Bombing Squadron, with Avro Ansons, Bristol Blenheims and Martin Baltimores, and the 335 and 336 Fighting Squadrons, with Hawker Hurricane I and IIs and Spitfire V types. The Hellenic Squadrons in the Middle East took over a variety of missions, such as convoy patrols, antisubmarine search, offensive patrols, reconnaissance, attacks and interceptions of enemy aircraft. In summer 1943 the Greek Squadrons participated in the attack against the German Wehrmacht on the island of Crete. From May to November 1944 the Greek squadrons continued in Italy. Greek pilots operated with great success. Two of those pilots were Pilot Officer G. Tsotsos and Master Sergeant D. Soufrillas flying Spitfires credited with shooting down German Junkers 88 bombers. Seventy men were lost.[4]
During World War II Greek pilots who were flying with the RAF achieved many victories. Wing Commander John Agorastos Plagis shot down 17 enemy aircraft over Malta and Western Europe. Flying Lieutenant Vasilios Michael Vassiliadis was credited with 11.5 enemy aircraft over Western Europe before he was killed in action on 15 March 1945 over Germany. Steve Pisanos, an immigrant to USA in 1938, joined an Eagle Squadron of American volunteers in the RAF and fought over Western Europe. He later joined the USAF and took US citizenship to continue fighting with the same squadron, now part of the USAF 4th FG. He achieved 10 victories with USAF by 1944.
After Greece's liberation in 1944, RHAF returned home and subsequently played a decisive role in the Greek Civil War, which lasted until 1949, re-equipped with Spitfire Mk IX , Spitfire Mk XVI fighters and Curtiss Helldiver bombers.
After the end of the Greek Civil War, in November 1950, in order to assist the United Nations, Greece sent to South Korea seven C-47 Dakota aircraft of the 13th Transport Aircraft Squadron. The Greek aircraft operated in Korea until May 1955. Greek pilots flew thousands of war missions such as air evacuations, transports of personnel, prisoners of war and every kind of material, drops of supplies and ammunition and collection of information.
In 1952 Greece was admitted to NATO and the Air Force was rebuilt and organized according to NATO standards, with US assistance. New aircraft, including jets, were introduced.
The first jet fighter interceptor design to be flown by the Hellenic Air Force was the F-84G Thunderjet, soon to be replaced by Canadair Sabre 2, about 100 examples being supplied during 1954 and 1955 after upgrading in the United Kingdom following service with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Lockheed T-33s were delivered to training units and some RT-33's for reconnaissance missions.
The Republic F-84F first flew with the Hellenic Air Force in 1955. The Thunderstreak was developed to overcome the limitations of the Thunderjet's straight flying surfaces. The RF-84F was the reconnaissance version of the F-84 F Thunderstreak. This aircraft remained operational with the 348 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the Hellenic Air Force from 1956 to March 29, 1991.
In the late 1960s, the RHAF acquired new jet aircraft, that served well for almost 20 years. The main jets that entered the HAF fleet during this period were the F-104G Starfighter and later on, the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger (in service 1969–1975) and the F-5 Freedom Fighter.
In the mid-1970s the Hellenic Air Force was further modernized with deliveries of the Dassault Mirage F1CG fleet, A-7H/TA-7H Corsair II and the first batch of F-4E Phantom IIs, upgraded versions of which still serve today.
Also in 1993, USAF delivered to Hellenic Air Force 62 A-7E/TA-7C, increasing the air-to-ground capability of the HAF. Some of the A-7s were still in service as of 2011[update]with the Hellenic Air Force, pending deliveries of 4.5 generation fighters.[5]
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 March 1985 the Greek government announced the purchase of 36 F-16C Block 30 and 4 F-16D Block 30 in a program called Peace Xenia I. In the same month Greece ordered 36 single-seat Mirage 2000EG and 4 two-seat Mirage 2000BG, as part of the "Talos" modernization program.
In 1989 the first fourth-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 in Tanagra airforce base and equipped the 331 and 332 squadrons. In January 1989 the first F-16C/D Block 30 arrived in 111 combat wing in Nea Anchialos airforce base and were allocated to the 330 "Thunder" and 346 "Jason" interceptor squadrons in Larissa airforce base.[6][7]
On March 29, 1991, the RF-84F were retired from service after 34 years and 7 months of operational life. In November 1992 more RF-4Es were delivered to the 348 "Eyes" Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.
In 1993 Peace Xenia II program began. Greece ordered 32 F-16C and 8 F-16s, Block 50 version. The first Block 50 was delivered on July 25, 1997. These aircraft, equipped with the LANTIRN navigation and targeting pod as well as AIM-120 AMRAAM and AGM-88 HARM missiles, were allocated to the 341 "Aces" and 347 "Perseus" squadrons in Nea Anchialos airforce base.
The basic mission of 341 "Aces" squadron is Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). The role of 347 "Perseus" squadron is air-to-ground missions.
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 purchase any more aircraft with nuclear mounting capabilities.
In 1998 Greece decided, in cooperation with the German Aerospace Industry (DASA) and Hellenic Aerospace Industry(EAB), to upgrade 39 F-4E Phantom IIs. After many problems, the first aircraft were delivered in Andravida Air Base, in December 2002. This aircraft, which is called "Princess of Andravida" (s/n 72-01523), is unique because it doesn't have the M61 Vulcan gun installed. The upgraded aircraft are equipped with a new radar AN/APQ-65 YG similar to this of F/A-18 Hornet , mission-control computer, Head Up Display, IFF Interrogator, Multi Function Displays and are capable of carrying a large variety of advanced air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM (only the -B edition), the AIM-9M missile, the AFDS and all the family of the Paveway (I, II and III) laser-guided bombs. These aircraft are called F-4E Peace Icarus 2000 (PI2000) or F-4E Phantom II AUP (Avionics Upgrade Program) and are operating with the 338 Squadron "Ares" and 339 Squadron "Ajax based in Andravida Air Base in multi-role missions.[8] Recently, according to 338 Squadron "Ares" crews, the F-4E Phantom II PI2000(AUP) has been certified for use of GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bombs, making the aircraft an excellent and modern weapon platform for precision strikes.
Entering the 21st century, Greece decided to purchase a large number of fighter aircraft, to replace the non-upgraded F-4E Phantoms, a number of A-7 Corsairs, and the fleet of Mirage F1CGs.
In the year 2000 Greece ordered 60 F-16C/D Block 52+ and 15 Mirage 2000-5Mk.2. The order for the F-16s was about 50 single-seat of the C version and 10 two-seat of the D version. Also, Greece decided to upgrade 10 of its existing Mirage 2000EGs to Mirage 2000-5Mk.2 standards.
In September 2004, Greece started the Mirage 2000BG/EG fleet upgrade to the standard 2000-5 Mk2 and the project was undertaken by the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and the EAB. Fifteen new aircraft were delivered.[9] The Mirage 2000-5Mk.2 has a new more powerful radar, improved Air To Ground capabilities including the SCALP EG Cruise Missile, new self-protection system, new Inertial Navigation System(INS), a Glass Cockpit and an air to air refueling capability.
In 2005, Greece was the first country worldwide[10] to add the F-16 Block 52+ to its inventory. This advanced F-16 type is an improved version of the Block 50 featuring a more powerful radar, Conformal Fuel Tanks for bigger Ferry Range, advanced communications systems, upgraded engine, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and is capable of carying more advanced weapons, including the IRIS-T Air To Air missile. Three squadrons are operating with this type of F-16s. These squadrons are the 337 Squadron "Ghost" in Larissa air base, 340 Squadron "Fox and 343 Squadron "Star" in Souda air base.[11]
In 2005, the Greek government ordered 30 more F-16C/D, 20 single seat and 10 double seat. These aircraft are called F-16C/D Block 52+ Advanced, but in Hellenic Air Force are known as F-16 Block52M (due to improved computing power for mission computer MMC).[12] The differences between the normal Block 52+ and Block 52+ Advanced, are that the Advanced version has, LINK 16 Communications System, more powerful Mission Control Computer, an extra Multi Function Display with a movable map navigation, advanced Debriefing System and the capability of carrying the RECCE Reconnaissance Pod. The first aircraft were delivered to Hellenic Air Force in May 2009 and they are flying with the 335 Squadron "Tiger" in Araxos air base.[13][14]
Due to the retirement of units that have ended their operational life (A-7E Corsair II and F-4 Phantom II), the HAF should be looking forward to acquiring new 4th, 4.5th or 5th generation fighters to reach a total number of 300 advanced fighters, according to the Supreme Air Force Council "2007–2012 operational planning" study which was published in 2007. Candidates for 4.5th or 5th generation aircraft are the Dassault Rafale, F-35 Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, MiG-35 and the Sukhoi Su-35.[15]
Recently Greece requested the U.S. Government to provide spare parts in support of its F-16, E/RF-4E, C-130H/B, C-27J, T-6A/C, and other aircraft with systems/subsystems of U.S. origin. The estimated cost of this help is $160 million.
The Hellenic Air Force is overseen by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, whose head is minister Panos Beglitis. More specifically, HAF is directly overseen by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.
The three commands are the Tactical Air Command (Αρχηγείο Τακτικής Αεροπορίας, ATA), headquartered at Larisa, the Air Support Command (Διοίκηση Αεροπορικής Υποστήριξης, ΔΑΥ) and the Air Training Command (Διοίκηση Αεροπορικής Εκπαίδευσης, ΔΑΕ), both based in Athens.
The Tactical Air Command includes eight Combat Wings and one Transport Wing. The Combat Wings have six fighter ground-attack squadrons. There are ten fighter squadrons, one regular reconnaissance squadron, and one marine reconnaissance squadron. Three transport squadrons and two helicopter squadrons form the organization of the air portion of the Tactical Air Command. The Air Training Command includes four training squadrons.
The eight major H.A.F. installations are located in Larisa, Nea Anchialos (west of Volos), Elefsis, west of Athens, Thessaloniki, Tanagra, north of Athens, Souda Bay, Araxos in the northern Peloponnese, and Andravida. Other airports supporting military operations are located in the Aegean Islands of Karpathos, Santorini (Thira), Rhodes, Skyros, and Lemnos as well as in Kavala, Heraklion, Ritsona and Tatoi/Dekeleia, north of Athens.
Officer Grade Structure of the Hellenic Air Force | ||||||||||
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NATO Code | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | |
Insignia | ||||||||||
Title | Pterarchos | Antipterarchos | Ypopterarchos | Taxiarchos | Sminarchos | Antisminarchos | Episminagos | Sminagos | Yposminagos | Anthyposminagos |
Greek | Πτέραρχος | Αντιπτέραρχος | Υποπτέραρχος | Ταξίαρχος | Σμήναρχος | Αντισμήναρχος | Επισμηναγός | Σμηναγός | Υποσμηναγός | Ανθυποσμηναγός |
Equivalent Title | Air Chief Marshal or General |
Air Marshal or Lieutenant General |
Air Vice-Marshal or Major General |
Air Commodore or Brigadier General |
Group Captain or Colonel |
Wing Commander or Lieutenant Colonel |
Squadron Leader or Major |
Flight Lieutenant or Captain |
Flying Officer or 1st Lieutenant |
Pilot Officer or 2nd Lieutenant |
NCO – Enlisted Grade Structure of the Hellenic Air Force | |||||||||||||
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NATO Code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | ||||
Insignia[24] | No insignia | ||||||||||||
Title | Anthypaspistis | Archisminias | Archisminias EPOP-EMTh |
Episminias | Episminias EPOP-EMTh |
Sminias | Sminias EPOP-EMTh |
Klirotos Sminias |
Yposminias EPOP |
Sminitis EPOP |
Sminitis | ||
Greek | Ανθυπασπιστής | Αρχισμηνίας | Αρχισμηνίας ΕΠΟΠ-ΕΜΘ |
Επισμηνίας | Επισμηνίας ΕΠΟΠ-ΕΜΘ |
Σμηνίας | Σμηνίας ΕΠΟΠ-ΕΜΘ |
Κληρωτός Σμηνίας |
Υποσμηνίας ΕΠΟΠ |
Σμηνίτης ΕΠΟΠ |
Σμηνίτης | ||
Equivalent rank |
Warrant Officer | Chief Master Sergeant | Master Sergeant | Sergeant | Senior Airman | Airman First Class | Airman |
As of 2010-2011, according to Hellenic Ministry of National Defence the HAF operates a total of 510+ aircraft.
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes | |
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Combat aircraft | ||||||
Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon | USA | Multirole Fighter
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F-16C
F-16D |
120
36 |
34C & 6D Block 30,32CJ & 8DJ block 50,57C & 29D(MISSIONIZED) 52+/52+ Advanced =156 | |
Dassault Mirage 2000 | France | Multirole Fighter | Mirage 2000EGM
Mirage 2000BGM Mirage 2000-5 Mk.2 |
17
3 25 |
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McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II | USA/Greece | Tactical Fighter/Reconnaissance | RF-4E Phantom II
F-4E PI-2000 AUP |
22
35 |
F-4E Peace Icarus 2000 aircraft, AUP:Avionics Upgrade Program | |
LTV A-7 Corsair II | USA | Attack Aircraft | A-7E
TA-7C |
36
15 |
15 TA-7C With Air Refueling Pods (buddy-buddy) | |
309 | ||||||
Airborne early warning & Maritime patrol aircraft | ||||||
EMB-145H AEW&C | Brazil | Airborne early warning (AEW) | 4 | |||
Lockheed C-130 Hercules | USA | Electronic Signals Intelligence (ELINT-SIGINT) | C-130H | 2 | of 15 | |
Lockheed P-3 Orion | USA | Maritime patrol aircraft | P-3B | 6 | At least 2 in upgrade program | |
12 | ||||||
Transport Aircraft | ||||||
Lockheed C-130 Hercules | USA | Tactical Transport | C-130B
C-130H |
15 | Avionics Modernization Program in progres | |
Alenia C-27J Spartan | Italy | Tactical Transport | C-27J | 8 | 4 on order with In-Flight refueling system | |
Embraer ERJ-135ER | Brazil | VIP Transport-Medical Evacuation | 2 | |||
Gulfstream G500 | USA | VIP Transport-Medical Evacuation | G500 | 1 | ||
26 | ||||||
Trainer aircraft/Light Attack | ||||||
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II | USA | Trainer | T-6A Texan II
T-6A NTA Texan II |
25
20 |
20 of them with light attack role | |
Rockwell T-2 Buckeye | USA | Trainer | T-2C
T-2E |
40 | With weapons capacity | |
105 | With 20 T-41D Mascalero | |||||
Firefighting/Light transports[25] | ||||||
Canadair CL-215 | Canada | Firefighting & SAR - Light transport | CL-215GR | 13 | ||
Bombardier 415 | Canada | Firefighting & SAR- Light tansport | CL-415GR
CL-415MP |
8 | The MP for maritime patrol/CSAR | |
PZL M18B "Dromader" | Poland | Firefighting/observation | 23 | |||
44 | ||||||
Helicopters[26] | ||||||
AgustaWestland AW109 | Italy | MEDEVAC Helicopter | A109E Power | 3 | ||
Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma | France | CSAR & SAR Helicopter | AS 332C1 Super Puma | 12 | ||
Agusta-Bell AB205 | Italy | Multiple-role helicopter | AB205A | 12 | ||
Agusta-Bell AB212 | Italy | Multiple-role helicopter | AB212 | 4 | ||
Bell 47 | USA | Crop Dusting/liaison | 47G | 7 | ||
38 | ||||||
Other | ||||||
EAB Pegasus II | Greece | Reconnaissance (RUAV) | E1-79 | ? | At least 5 in service and 12 on order. | |
NAMC YS-11 | Japan | Calibration | YS-11 | 1 | ||
6 ? | ||||||
Total Aircraft | ||||||
510+ | Small Numbers of F-5s and oldest A-7Hs in reserve |
The camo extensively used by the Hellenic Air Force is the "Aegean Ghost" theme (Φάντασμα του Αιγαίου). The A-7 Corsair IIs used the "Vietnam" theme.C-130s after AUP program receive the USAFs "Grey" theme.
The worst accident in the history of the Hellenic Air Force occurred on February 5, 1991 when Lockheed C-130H Hercules 748 crashed into Mount Othrys during the landing approach to Nea Anchialos. Sixty-three people were killed.
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