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Greece formally approved an offer to buy 20 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from the United States as part of a major defense overhaul, government officials said Thursday.<\/p>\n
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said while visiting a military air base near Athens that the purchase would create \u201ca powerful deterrent presence in our region.\u201d A letter of acceptance for the deal has been signed and sent to the U.S., he said.<\/p>\n
Delivery of the fifth-generation jet made by Lockheed Martin<\/a> is expected to start in 2028, while Greece maintains the option to purchase 20 additional F-35 jets as part of an $8.6 billion deal.<\/p>\n The purchase of the first 20 jets along with additional support will cost some $3.5 billion, Greek officials said.<\/p>\n Greece is overhauling its military in a decade-long program following a protracted financial crisis and continued tension with neighbor and NATO ally Turkey, mostly over a volatile sea boundary dispute.<\/p>\n Turkey was dropped from the F-35 program five years ago over its decision to buy Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system, a move seen in the United States as compromising NATO security.<\/p>\n In Athens, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis described the current military modernization campaign as the most significant in \u201cmany decades.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue to implement this major program, equipping our country and armoring its defenses,\u201d Marinakis said.<\/p>\n Athens has been seeking an advantage in the air since Turkey\u2019s exclusion from F-35 purchases and has also acquired advanced French-made Rafale fighter jets. Deliveries to the Greek air force began in 2021, starting with jets previously used by France\u2019s military that will be supplemented by new aircraft built by French defense contractor Dassault Aviation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin\u2019s vice president and general manager of the F-35 program, described her company\u2019s aircraft as being ideal to \u201cstrengthen Greece\u2019s sovereignty and operational capability with allies.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is our honor to continue (our) relationship as Greece becomes the 19th nation to join the F-35 program,\u201d she said,<\/p>\n The U.S. State Department in January approved the sale that could eventually total 40 F-35 aircraft, along with 42 engines as well as services and equipment including secure communications devices, electronic warfare systems, training, logistics, and maintenance support.<\/p>\n Current members of the F-35 program, either as participants or through military sales, are: the United States, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Israel, Japan, Korea, Belgium, Poland, Singapore, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRecommended Newsletter: <\/strong>CEO Daily provides key context for the news leaders need to know from across the world of business. Every weekday morning, more than 125,000 readers trust CEO Daily for insights about\u2013and from inside\u2013the C-suite. Subscribe Now<\/a>.<\/div>\n