Lockheed Martin, in partnership with Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), recently completed the upgrade of the 20th F-16 fighter jet to the advanced “Viper” configuration for the Hellenic Air Force (HAF). This significant upgrade strengthens Greece’s defense capabilities, providing the HAF with the most modern F-16 fleet in Europe.
The F-16V upgrades are being performed at HAI’s Tanagra facilities under a $1.5 billion program approved by the U.S. government in October 2017. The first upgraded aircraft was originally delivered in 2009 as an F-16C Block 52+ with a Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine, part of the Peace Xenia IV foreign military sale program. Greece is upgrading 84 of its total 90 Block 52/52+ F-16s. The remaining 80 Block 30/50 aircraft with General Electric F110 engines are not included in this program.
The upgraded aircraft are designated F-16V Block 72 configuration, with the “2” indicating the Pratt & Whitney engine. A key feature is the integration of the Northrop Grumman APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) for enhanced detection and tracking capabilities.
The pilot’s cockpit receives a significant upgrade with a new center pedestal display and compatibility with the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) II. Additional improvements include a more powerful mission computer, an automatic ground collision avoidance system, advanced electronic warfare suite, Link 16 datalink for secure communication, and a modern friend-or-foe identification system.
“Lockheed Martin is proud to collaborate with HAI to deliver these advanced F-16V fighters to the Hellenic Air Force,” said OJ Sanchez, Vice President of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Fighter Group. “This upgrade bolsters Greece’s NATO capabilities and provides them with Europe’s most sophisticated and cost-effective F-16 fleet.”
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