Greece Agrees to Buy 20 F-35 Combat Jets

Greece signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) on July 25 to acquire 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft through a U.S. Foreign Military Sale.

This agreement includes an option for 20 additional jets. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced the signing during a visit to a military base near Athens.

The delivery of the jets is scheduled to begin in 2028. The initial purchase, costing approximately $3.5 billion, is part of a broader $8.6 billion agreement that encompasses support and the option for further fighter acquisitions.

Related article: United States OKs $8.6B Sale of F-35 Fighter Jets to Greece

This procurement is a key component of Greece's decade-long military modernization, prompted by tensions with Turkey over maritime boundaries. In recent years, Turkey was removed from the F-35 program due to its acquisition of Russian S-400 missile systems, which the U.S. viewed as a security risk. Turkey has since sought to upgrade its air force, signing an agreement last month to acquire F-16 fighters and modernization kits.