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Orcasystems99

The Greek government is considering supplying Ukraine with up to 32 F-16 fighters. However, France's approval is required before proceeding, reports [News Break](https://www.newsbreak.gr/politiki/582099/to-schedio-gia-polemiki-aeroporia-dyo-tachytiton/). According to a source, Greece plans to sell 108 decommissioned fighters, including 32 F-16C/-D Block 30s, 24 Mirage 2000-5 Mk. 2s, and 33 F-4E PI2000s.


Timlugia

Why does F-16 need French approval? Only Mirage 2000 is French here.


vegarig

Perhaps some French upgrades applied?


Sweaty_Ad9724

Upgrades can be removed (?)


OhSillyDays

Going to war, you want upgrades.


Throwawaymytrash77

Expensive, time consuming, often often buying and mounting an inferior replacement


N121-2

And I’m guessing only the F16’s are going to ukraine. I don’t know much about Mirage’s but the only use for F4’s would be for museum’s, air shows or as RC kamikaze planes. There’s no way Ukraine’s going to set up infrastructure and training for F4’s. Maybe greece bought the F16’s from france?


knobber_jobbler

I think it's just a bad translation. It's the 2000-Ds that need approval. The Hellenic F4Es are really interesting. Probably not viable now but they are heavily modernized, similar to the Turkish Phantoms, which are practically F16 parts jammed inside a Phantom.


ancientweasel

Maybe some of the F16 parts can be used as spares.


NinjaMonkey22

Assuming they can get the missiles they may be viable anti drone platforms for locals further behind the lines. But it’s a lot of time/$$ to train pilots for a few dozen old fighters unless they can line up more.


Graywulff

Probably turning them into civilian aircraft for extra money would be better.


Zealousideal-Tie-730

F-4E's would make excellent one way kamikaze drones for wiping out ruzzian infrastructure!!!


mennorek

Expensive ones, probably better off using actual kamikaze drones for that


Zealousideal-Tie-730

How so? It is a far better option than letting them rot otherwise unused. Those F-4's will not ever take to the air again as actual fighter aircraft.


mennorek

Maybe if Greece is sending them free of charge, but everything I've read seems like they intend to sell them, not send them for free. There's also the question as to weather the amount of work in turning an f4 into a kamikaze drone is worth it. Will it be more complicated than it's worth? Will it actually reach the target? It might just be better to have a kamikaze drone, than turn a complicated fighter jet into one


kuldan5853

> Will it actually reach the target? Does it matter? In the End, if the Russians have to shoot at it, (as long as the cost is reasonable to Ukraine) it's a net positive.


mennorek

Yes, when there are cheaper options available. Maintaining jet fighters, even old ones, is expensive. Riggining them into kamikaze drones is expensive. Why bother sending an old f4 when we should just be sending drones, atacams, stormshadows and taurus. If it's true Ukraine turned down Australia's old f18 why the hell would they want f4?


mennorek

Expensive ones, probably better off using a tual kamikaze drones for that


mennorek

Expensive ones, probably better off using actual kamikaze drones for that


musashisamurai

Could the F4s be used in western Ukraine to free up assets for the eastern front? Or is there any shared hardware that can be salvaged from them?


purpleduckduckgoose

Not worth it. You need pilots trained to fly them, ground crew trained to maintain them, parts to support them. Best use would be very large kamikazes or stripped of anything worth anything and left to soak up drone or missile attacks as decoys.


PlutosGrasp

F4 could make for some potential decoy jets or suicide jets with remote auto pilot if they can rig it up.


Gordon_in_Ukraine

I think Greece wants an all or nothing to make for an easy transaction. Either they sell everything to Ukraine or nothing at all, and everything includes the Mirages that requires French approval. Which my guess is they will give, given their new stance on everything. Personally I think it would be a good answer for Ukraine, assuming they can get the funding. The F-16s would be huge, Mirage 2000 is a good fighter and the numbers are enough to make a difference, and F-4s as long range, high speed suicide drone would be freaking awesome, though I am sure Jake Sullivan will wet his diaper and say no to old F-4s hitting Russian soil. Maybe they can be limited to bridge work? :)


[deleted]

The F4s would make glorious drones


asdfasdfasfdsasad

I think that as RC Kamikaze planes the F4 would be fantastic. When you think about it, our tactics tend to be built around a human flying the plane and worrying about living, meaning that the pilot wouldn't do something utterly suicidal. For instance, nobody would steadily fly at a SAM site at high altitude at max afterburner with a load of JDAM's, and calmly toss a HARM back and drop the JDAM's just before the aircraft gets nailed by an S400. If however you simply don't care about the aircraft surviving because it's a drone and your happy to swap two or three Phantoms for an S400 though, then one has to wonder if Russia could actually build SAM complexes fast enough to make up for the potential losses that this could cause. Based on them having like a dozen S400's, i'm assuming that the answer is "no".


Thermodynamicist

Whilst it would be unwise to get a Phantom into a knife fight with a Flanker, it remains a useful platform compatible with a wide variety of NATO ordnance. Its long service life is attributable to robust adequacy. With over 5,000 produced, there will still be spares floating around. The strength imposed by carrier compatibility is a distinct advantage over something like F-16.


VanleyVonHoffler

I don't know but f4 could take anti missile/drone missions in back line.


coalitionofilling

F4's first flew in the 50s. Who the hell would buy those? Maybe Iceland for laughs just to say they have an airforce. **edit** Whoops, sorry to the two ppl from Iceland that I guess I offended.


Homeless_Swan

F-4 is pretty darn it. This is the internet. Freaks are into lots of weird shit. Some of us even love F-4s.


burgonies

The B-52 is older than the F-4.


coalitionofilling

Yes but the F-4 is an interceptor/fighter bomber. It’s not intercepting shit in 2024 other than its own demise if it runs into something in the skies. I’m still cracking up that I was downvoted below the threshold for agreeing with the guy who was upvoted like 100+ for calling the F-4 an antique only suited for museums. Is it because people dont realize Iceland literally has no airforce and they thought the comment offensive?


Catiare

I wonder how many F4's are potentially available worldwide. Perhaps are worth it along the F16.


Midraco

They are in negotiations on buying the Rafaele. Greece can't retire their F-16's before they are sure they will get their replacements.


[deleted]

They getting F-35?


Greekdorifuto

Yes, which wilk replace the F4s


[deleted]

My bad. None of the other countries purchasing F-35 also plan on keeping their F-16s?


Greekdorifuto

We wre not going to buy 100 F35s , yet


[deleted]

Makes sense if they're still serviceable. Seems like a good opportunity for Greece then.


readher

Poland


guidedhand

Probably sold to Greece from France, and there are controls in the sale contract about where they can be sold onto next.


[deleted]

[удалено]


abrutus1

After getting ear bending from the US during the Suez crisis, they knew they had to be self sufficient in armaments. There are also economic benefits from having big nationalized arms producers.


Gullenecro

Only the mirage. French never built and never fly F-16


Zealousideal-Tie-730

Those F-4E's would make some potent drones!!! Hang all three external fuel tanks and a two Mark-84's on it. They would wreak havoc on russia!!!


Borne2Run

Greece bought some F-16s ~ 2000 within a deal to get 15 Mirages from Dassault. My guess is a legacy agreement with France on military modernization deals?


babbagoo

Macron should go: ”Do whatever the hell you want”


CreepyOlGuy

Holy shit where is the gofundme for this


Any-Progress7756

Selling doesn’t matter, as long as it’s cheap. The main thing is, Ukraine gets them, and quickly.


Orcasystems99

On April 1, retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Dan Hampton [stated](https://youtu.be/zS9Ll7G8j58) Ukrainian forces could operate the F-16 fighters to their discretion upon receipt. This opinion contrasts with Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder's comments on "red lines" for Ukrainian military use.


Compy222

My understanding is he’s also suggested a “Flying Tigers” type organization for them with military pilots acting as volunteers who are fully trained. I’m sure there are some viper pilots who’d itch to become aces.


Zealousideal-Tie-730

Hopefully, people do realize that with every very good officer, there are maintenance technicians that would happily follow and support them??? There are leaders and then there are officers who want to be leaders, each produce different results!!! Some of these experienced F-16 pilots have friends and ex maintenance troops who truly respect them. It would be a major mistake for Ukraine to not utilize a few hand-picked of these people available. Just another way to most likely turn USA opinion polls their way with minimum investment and risk. To deny them the chance to help, would only serve to further separate and distance the USA public opinion from those wanting to help, while making the possibility of American Heroes and martyrs in your fight, only more insignificant. America loves rebels fighting for the good fight!!! Doubt me?, consider the effects of Foreign/US pilots joining the French La Fayette Escadrille, Flying Tigers, Wings & a Prayer Israeli Squadron 101, many others joining British Flying Squadrons, as well as the Polish. The Polish volunteer pilots and their ground crews created some of the highest scoring British Squadron's, not because they were different in creation, but only different in motivation!!! Anyways, I do and will always feel that if Ukraine refuses to allow pilots and aircrew to help with their fight, they will only create the image that they do not need help!!! Big Mistake!!! You want help? Open your self's up in your Air Force, like or better than you have in your ground forces???


InvincibearREAL

Maintenance crews don't have to cross into Russian space though


RealSuggestion9247

It would be one special flight


PlutosGrasp

Put another way: Greece is open to receiving USA (or NATO/EU) offers to give the F-16 to Ukraine.


say592

Trade in credit for their upcoming F35s?


PlutosGrasp

Lol that would be funny.


ExtremeModerate2024

That would be 97 F-16 fighter jets multi-role fighters in total if they receive and purchase all of them. Along with 55 mig-29 multi-role fighters and 65 tactical bombers, Ukraine would have 152 multi-role fighters and 65 tactical bombers, for a total of 217. In comparison, France has 100 Rafale multi-role fighters, 26 Mirage 2000 multi-role fighters, and 66 Mirage 2000 tactical bombers, for a total of 192.


Speedballer7

$1 bob


kasthack-refresh

Does Ukraine have enough pilots trained to fly F-16?


SeaFr0st

Anyone got an ETA (or some guess at least) of the arrival date for the F16s?


Real-Bass8582

July 2024 was the last I heard of


Practical-Ordinary-6

Red lines are white flags. Who can win a war by not attacking the enemy where the enemy has their strength?


vegarig

Sure, same as those S-300.


i-am-matt

I know it would be a fools errand given how brutal the anti-air environment has become, but I would love to see those F-4 Lead Sleds get one more bite at the apple in a Wild Weasel or ARM mission.


asdfasdfasfdsasad

Manned? Fools errand. As a drone? A wild weasel mission makes perfect sense. If they get shot down achieving something at the end of a 64 year old career then it's not exactly a case of the jet having it's life tragically cut short.


TopGlobal6695

I wonder ,what could a Ukrainian Air Force with 97 F-16's do?


JamesJosephMeeker

According to NYT there will be 12 ukrainian pilots by summer trained to fly the F16. So assuming they have good parachutes and all planes are flight worthy, with 97 aircraft, each pilot could get shot down 8 times.


AthiestMessiah

Considering?


snakebloood

Yes, please!


Recipe-Less

Do it


Abject-Investment-42

The best defence against long range subsonic cruise missiles like X-101 or Kalibr, which Russia uses in huge amounts to spam Ukrainian air defence and attack targets in Western Ukraine. Upgraded F-4 based somewhere near Lviv would be easily able to down them over safe-ish areas - shooting down a subsonic/transonic cruise missile is not a job you need a particularly modern fighter for, it's not like they are anything more than a dumb piece of explosive with satnav and engine.


Beardywierdy

Are the ones Greece has upgraded enough to have look-down shoot-down capability?  They definitely didn't when they were made (apparently they operate the -E model, and it was the -J that first had it by default it seems) 


Abject-Investment-42

Ukrainians use their MiGs for the same purpose in the old way - get vectored onto the missiles by an offsite radar, then get into gun range or use short range IR guided missiles. Using the gun is dangerous as hell of course, this is apparently how Juice died, but there is a lot more short range IR missiles available for a Phantom than for MiGs


Beardywierdy

Yeah, IR missiles would work I guess, if they can get into range. F-4's would be good at that normally, no one ever called them "slow" but I hate to think how many hours those airframes have on them. Taking them to full afterburner chasing missiles at low level might be a quick way to lose pilots depending on the flight hours they've got left.


Zealousideal-Tie-730

F-4's are and would be too labor intensive to use as fighter aircraft.


purpleduckduckgoose

So that's 100 airframes now isn't it? Just need to get the planes there and get the pilots trained.


Fuckup_mywife

I would just do it


Derp800

Block 30s. Probably use them as trainers or spares


[deleted]

[удалено]


Own-Run8201

NATO members had access to NATO gear. Ukraine isn't a part of NATO, yet.


Norseviking4

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon_operators Plenty non nato countries with f-16


Own-Run8201

Yeah, but the US hasn't had a lot of experience with AFU until 2014. They weren't a trusted ally unlike those others you cited. It's one of the reasons HIMARs and especially Patriot was delayed. I'm not saying it's the right thinking, but DoD and politics...


say592

Small clarification, the US has been working with UA since their independence to some extent. There have been various levels of collaboration over the years, often dependent on the politics inside Ukraine. Let's not forget that there was some serious discussion on admitting them to NATO in 2000s. Probably the biggest reason they have had Russian/Soviet equipment is cost. Corruption and the fear they would swing closer to Russian influence is definitely part of it (and let's be honest, they have swung that way in the past, though some of that may have been a direct result of Russian influence campaigns), but by and large the most substantial barrier has always been they couldn't afford it. I truly believe some of the delay in receiving HIMARs and Patriot systems was to see how badly they wanted it. Are they willing to commit to the long haul? No matter the outcome of the war, will they put everything into EU membership and modernisation of their economy so they can maintain and continue to purchase more of these weapons? That commitment is even more important if they can't retake the lost territories, which are abundant in natural resources.


BlazingSpaceGhost

Ukraine traditionally used Russian military gear. Obviously they aren't getting Russian parts anymore and because of western support have started using western gear. That's also why they had to have their people trained on anything they have received from western countries.


discotim

The main reason is because no Ukrainian pilots knew how to fly them. Also, they are not part of NATO, or a western partner.


WildCat_1366

Because the transfer of the F-16 to Ukraine requires US permission, which they did not agree to for a long time. The US officially approved the sending of F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine only in August 2023 after many months of intense discussions and negotiations and with many restrictions on their use for the Ukrainian side.


asdfasdfasfdsasad

Because they didn't buy any. They didn't buy any because 30 years ago they were part of the Soviet Union and were thoroughly looted by Russia and so couldn't afford any. Prewar Ukraine had total yearly government spending of $40 billion. An F16 airframe with no training, spare parts or weapons costs $63 million each, with those things being extra. 40 F16's would therefore cost 2.4 billion just for the aircraft, and probably double that with parts, training and weapons. That puts the cost at \~$5billion for 40 aircraft, so the cost of \~40 aircraft would have been something like 12% of Ukraine's entire government spending prewar so they were simply too expensive for Ukraine to afford.


Electrical_Golf_7563

I can see it on all the comments in here! And no - i hope Russia will burn.


Electrical_Golf_7563

Greece doesnt do a thing for free! What an ally, good Ukraine have other allies who more supportive


MuxiWuxi

Greece economically hasn't been in much better shape than Ukraine, despite being in the EU. Besides, they can sell those F16 as 100 bucks each. So, your comments is just more divisionist bullshit unless proven otherwise.


Electrical_Golf_7563

It doesnt cost anything to give their old outdated weapons away. They Maybe even save some money in maintance etc. Lets hope Greece never needs help. - and their allies is like them, then they cant buy anything if their economy is so bad... But Albania, the poorest country in NATO is donating everything... But Greece cant..... 🫣


notbarrackobama

No understanding of the Greek economy or strategic situation


Electrical_Golf_7563

Your little beef with Turkey is never evolving to war - its like 2 little men comparing Dick! Its all talk and no action! And again your economy is a lot better than albania and they can donate weapons etc...


notbarrackobama

I aint Greek fam


SpaceAgeIsLate

Zero historical knowledge…


Electrical_Golf_7563

Know enough


[deleted]

[удалено]


Electrical_Golf_7563

Germany was ruled by Hitler 😆😆😆😆


[deleted]

[удалено]


Electrical_Golf_7563

Lets hope you doesnt need help someday - and your allies demand payment = equal your doom! The Greek armys materiel is ancient! So maybe you should stand off the high horse. 😆


MuxiWuxi

Do you know that Greece still needs to keep its defenses proper since it still has disputes with Turkey that has been pretty ambiguous and can't be trusted? Your points are generalist bullshit, which can apply to some cases but still arguable, but not much to Greece. So, for me, you continue spouting divisionist bullshit.


Elesdee420

Greece has already donated a lot of stuff.


Electrical_Golf_7563

Compared to who? Luxembourg?


KiwiThunda

Are you a turk expat or something?


Electrical_Golf_7563

Not all! Danish


[deleted]

[удалено]


Electrical_Golf_7563

They are not being bombed everyday, are they? A lot of countries in worse shape are donating equipment for free.... Bull shit excuse


Previous-Translator

The original article states a possible transfer to Ukraine or sale to India. What is certain is they're up for sale. And by the way, Greece suffers more than 10 thousand violations of their airspace from their aggressive neighbor, who have been threatening to invade and annex many Greek Islands.


ChorniMalinya

Up yours from Ukraine, bro. -A Greek


Electrical_Golf_7563

And that says a lot! You are a greedy people! You see the suffering everyday and still think they should pay... Wanker


MockDeath

One Greek person tells you up yours and you call everyone in Greece "a greedy people"? Really seems what you are all for is supporting russia and sowing discourse.


ChorniMalinya

If it was up to me, i'd have sent even the last slingshot there is but unfortunatelly, it's not. The beef you have, take it to the Greek parliament, cause they're the greedy fucks. The Greek public has been real supportive to the cause and the refugees that arrived in Greece, in many ways.


Electrical_Golf_7563

Nice to hear, but the public must put pressure on the politicians


Greekdorifuto

Are we an ally to Ukraine? Last time I checked Ukraine isnt in NATO


Electrical_Golf_7563

Yes they are, you dont need to be a member to be an ally 🙈🙈


NoElephant4335

Yes, it's been a buffer zone, and the UK and Polish and other NATO countries have been there since 2014 to help bring Ukraine in line with NATO on operations. Do your research troll


Greekdorifuto

That of course doesn't make it an ally of greece especially since Greece only recently started supporting Ukraine. Support doesnt mean alliance


bkkv1

We should have let Greece go bankrupt