Reuters has reported that Greece and the US have reached a weapons and aircraft modernisation agreement worth as much as $4 billion. The proposed package covers upgrades that will bring older Greek F-16s to the Viper configuration, along with advanced missiles and bombs intended for F-16 Vipers, the planned F-35 fleet and Black Hawk helicopters. Greece plans to spend around €28 billion ($31 billion) on armed forces modernisation through 2036. Reuters says defence spending is nearly 3.5% of GDP, while European Defence Agency data put last year’s expenditure at €6.9 billion, or 2.8% of GDP. Progress on F-16 upgrades: The country received its 60th upgraded F-16 Viper in September. Lockheed Martin and Hellenic Aerospace Industry are conducting the conversions, which incorporate APG-83 electronically scanned radars, new mission computers and improved cockpit displays. The work is performed at the Tanagra facilities north of Athens, supported technically by Lockheed Martin, with deliveries scheduled to run through 2027. Greece accepted its first two Vipers in September 2022, four years after approving the upgrade effort. The programme originated in a 2018 deal valued at $1.45 billion. An earlier US proposal had envisaged upgrading 120 aircraft for more than $2.4 billion.
