Greece invests in U.S.: After the F-16 deal, purchase of F-15 on the way?

Greece invests in the USA and not the other way around, as many have been waiting from the visit of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the White House. President and Businessman Donald Trump announced the F-16 upgrade deal but also mentioned Greece’s interest to purchase “Boeing aircraft.”

F-16

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued a press release giving details about the upgrade package for the Greek F-16 fighter jets. Americans estimate the total cost at 2.404 billion USD. Contractor is Lockheed Martin in Texas.

“This proposed sale will contribute to U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally,” the statement reads adding  “the upgrade of F-16 aircraft to an F-16 Block V configuration will bolster the Hellenic Air Force’s ability to support NATO and remain interoperable with the U.S. and the NATO alliance. It will also help Greece sustain operations in the future, thereby reducing the threat the alliance’s enemies pose to the U.S. and the alliance.”

The DSCA stetement was released after Defense Minster Panos Kammenos corrected President Trump saying the budget cap for F-16 was 1.1 billion euros.

DSCA Stetement

WASHINGTON, Oct 17, 2017 – The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Greece for an upgrade of F-16 aircraft to an F-16 Block V configuration. The estimated cost is $2.404 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on October 16, 2017.

The Government of Greece has requested a possible purchase of an upgrade of its existing F-16 fleet to an F-16 Block V configuration which includes up to one hundred twenty-five (125) APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radars (includes two (2) spares); one hundred twenty-three (123) Modular Mission Computers (MMCs); one hundred twenty-three (123) LINK-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS) with TACAN and EHSI; one hundred twenty-three (123) LN260 Embedded Global Navigation Systems (EGI)/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS); and one hundred twenty-three (123) Improved Programmable Display Generators (iPDGs). Also included in the proposed sale are up to one hundred twenty-three (123) APX-126 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Combined Interrogator Transponders (CIT); one (1) Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS); one (1) F-16V Simulator; upgrade to two (2) existing simulators; one (1) Avionics Level Test Station; Secure Communications, cryptographic equipment and navigation equipment; upgrade and integration of the Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suite (ASPIS) I to ASPIS II on twenty-six (26) F-16s; Ground Support System, systems integration and test; spares and repair parts, support and test equipment; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, logistical, and technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $2.404 billion.

This proposed sale will contribute to U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally which is an important partner for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The upgrade of F-16 aircraft to an F-16 Block V configuration will bolster the Hellenic Air Force’s ability to support NATO and remain interoperable with the U.S. and the NATO alliance. It will also help Greece sustain operations in the future, thereby reducing the threat the alliance’s enemies pose to the U.S. and the alliance.

The proposed sale will improve Greece’s capability to meet current and future security threats. Greece will use this capability as a deterrent to regional threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and execute counter-terrorism operations.

Greece currently employs a mix of F-16s in Block 30, Block 50, Block 52+, and Block 52+ Advanced configurations. Therefore, Greece will have no difficulty absorbing the upgrade of these aircraft from an operation and support standpoint.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin of Fort Worth, TX. There are currently no known offsets. However, Greece typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between Greece and the contractor.

The proposed sale will require the assignment of approximately 3-5 additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Greece.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded. dsca.mil

President Donald Trump was right to refer to the F-16 package several times during the meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and thus in front of the media.

“It will bring jobs to Americans,” he hailed.

Boeing F-15

In another part of the press conference, Trump mentioned also that Greeks “on their part expressed interest on purchasing more Boeing aircraft.”

Boeing? What Boeing? According to some military news Greek website, Greece has F-15 in mind most likely F-15E Strike Eagle. “Defense Minister Panos Kammenos had a positive approach to such a purchase in the past,” the website adds. Some Greeks puzzled whether Trump meant “Chinook” but he spoke of “aircraft” and not “helicopters.”

Donald Trump is more a businessman and less a president.

The crucial questions are:

1. Will Greece’s European lenders approve such expenditure?
2. Where will the money come from?
3. How many jobs will the expenditure cost to Greeks?

PS I was thinking that it was the US that would invest in Greece and not the other way around. On the other hand, the F-16 fleet should have been upgraded long ago. We don’t play games with the country’s defense, do we?