Hellenic Air Force
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The Hellenic Air Force (Greek Πολεμική Αεροπορία) is the primary air force of Greece.
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History
The Hellenic Aviation Ministry was established in 1911, with help from French experts. The first Greek aviator was Emmanuel Argyropoulos, who flew in 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, the Hellenic Naval Aviation Ministry was founded. That September, the Greek Army fielded its first squadron, the Air Company (Λόχος Αεροπόρων).
The Hellenic Air Force participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, the Asia Minor Campaign, and World War II. During the Second World War, the entire force was destroyed by the Germans. In the 1950's, the force was rebuilt and organized according to NATO standards.
Organization
- Chief-of-Staff of the Air Force
- Commander for Air Combat Wings
- Commandant of Combat Support & Maintenance Command
- Commandant for Aeronautical Education
- 110th Fighter Wing (110 Πτέρυγα Μάχης)
- 337th Squadron "Phantom" (337 Μοίρα Φαντάσμα)
- 346th Squadron "Jason" (346 Μοίρα Ιασών)
- 348th Squadron "Eyes" (348 Μοίρα Μάτια)
- 111th Fighter Wing (111 Πτέρυγα Μάχης)
- 330th Squadron "Thunder" (330 Μοίρα "Κεραύνος")
- 341st Squadron "Ace" (341 Μοίρα "Άσσος")
- 347th Squadron "Perseus" (347 Μοίρα "Περσεύς")
- 114th Fighter Wing (114 Πτέρυγα Μάχης)
- 331th Squadron "Aegaeas" (330 Μοίρα "Κεραύνος")
- 332th Squadron "Falcon" (332 Μοίρα "Γεράκι")
- 115th Fighter Wing (115 Πτέρυγα Μάχης)
- 340th Squardon "Fox" (340 Μοίρα "Αλεπού")
- 343th "Star" (343 Μοίρα "Αστέρι")
- 334th "Talos" (334 Μοίρα "Τάλως")
- 116th Fighter Wing (116 Πτέρυγα Μάχης), based in Araxos, Greece, province of Achaia
- 335 Bombardment Squadron "Tigers" (335 Μοίρα Βομβαρδισμών "Τίγρεις")
- 336 Bombardment Squadron "Falcon" (336 Μοίρα Βομβαρδισμών "Γεράκι")
- 117th Fighter Wing (117 Πτέρυγα Μάχης)
- 337 Fighter Squadron (337 Μοίρα Αναχαίτησης)
- 338 Fighter Squadron (338 Μοίρα Αναχαίτησης)
Equipment
Combat aircraft flown by the Hellenic Air Force include a number of advanced foreign fighters, with older models retrofitted to the latest standards. The main transport utilized is the C-130 Hercules II. There are plans to integrate the Eurofighter 2000 fighter jet into the fleet by 2007.
- Tactical fighters
- F-16 Fighting Falcon: 135 (35 F-16C/D Block 30,40 F-16C/D Block 40,60 F-16C/D Block 52)
- Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000: 50 (35 updated to reach the 2000 Mk5 level with new radar and electronics)
- F-4 Phantom II: 57 (35 updated with new radar and electronics the rest are to be retired)
- RF-4 Phantom II: 22
- A-7 Corsair II: 80
- Transports
- C-130 Hercules: 15
- C-27J Spartan: 12
- Trainers
- T-2 Buckeye: 40
- T-6 Texan II: 45
- T-41 Mescalero: 20
- Reconnaisance - AWACS
- EMB-145 Erieye: 6
External link
- Greek Air Force - Official Site (http://www.haf.gr/)Template:Mil-stub