The US State Department has approved the sale of 20 F-35 fighter jets to Greece for $8.6 billion.
The US government has given the green light to the sale of 20 advanced F-35 fighter jets to Greece, along with the sale of 40 F-16s and around 80 modernization kits to Turkey for $23 billion.
As protothema.gr wrote, the commitment that the sale of F-35s to Greece will proceed immediately was given at the highest level in the meeting between Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis and A. Blinken in Chania.
The American government proceeded to the next phase, sending the official notification to Congress for the simultaneous approval of the sale of new combat aircraft to Greece and Turkey.
It was preceded by the ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO by the Turkish parliament, Biden’s letter to Congress pressing for the acceptance of Ankara’s request, and the signing of Sweden’s accession protocol by President Erdogan.
With the official notification to Congress, a diplomatic marathon that had lasted almost two years, against the backdrop of Sweden’s accession process and the acquisition of new fighters by two of Washington’s main allies, comes to an end.
Given that we are talking about two NATO allies, the law provides that the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) will be sent to Athens and Ankara respectively immediately after 15 days. In the event that there is no reaction in Congress, the government has the option of sending the letter earlier. In any case, however, the letter should be considered official after the allotted time, which gives US lawmakers a chance to voice any objections they may have.
From there, negotiations will follow that will last a few months to finalize the technical details as well as the financing conditions that each agreement will have respectively.
According to information, the American side assures in private discussions that the agreement reached in Vilnius, also known as the “Menendez Package”, will be fully implemented.
The official letter to Congress on the sale of F-35s to Greece
“The State Department has decided to approve a potential military sale to the government of Greece of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $8.6 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency provided the required certification by notifying Congress of this potential sale today.
The Government of Greece has requested the purchase of up to forty (40) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) aircraft and forty-two (42) Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines (40 installed, 2 spares). Also included are AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders, KGV-135A integrated secure communication devices. Cartridge-activated devices/propellant-activated devices (CAD/PAD), propellant cartridges, and flares. Complete mission simulators and system trainers, electronic warfare systems and reprogramming lab support, logistics and support management systems, threat detection, tracking and targeting systems, Contractor Logistics Support (CLS), graded software and development, delivery and integration support, transportation and supply support . Aircraft engine component improvement program (CIP) support, secure communications, precision navigation and cryptographic systems and equipment. Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment. parts and repair parts, consumables and accessories and repair and return support, minor modifications, maintenance and maintenance support, training and staff training equipment. Classified and unclassified publications and technical documents. U.S. government and engineering, technical, and logistical support services, studies, and research. and other related logistics and program support elements.
The estimated total cost is $8.6 billion.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the air capabilities and interoperability of a NATO ally that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe.
The proposed sale will allow Greece to modernize its air force and improve its ability to provide air defense, contribute to NATO’s missions to maintain regional security and defend NATO Allies and maintain its interoperability with US and NATO forces. The F-35 will offset the increasing obsolescence of other Hellenic Air Force aircraft such as the F-4 and Mirage 2000. Greece will have no difficulty absorbing these items and services into its Armed Forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not change the basic military balance in the region.
Prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, TX and Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, CT. The buyer usually asks for offsets. Any compensation arrangement will be determined during negotiations between the buyer and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of additional US government representatives or contractors to Greece.
There will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on original requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority and signed sales agreements, if and when they are entered into.”
The Schedule
Congress is expected to approve the sale of the F-35 through the tacit process and then, after Greece accepts the LOA, negotiations will begin for the conclusion of the contract, which will include the timetables, the level of equipment and the way of financing . Greece will be the first country in the region after Israel to acquire the state-of-the-art fifth generation fighters, which together with the Rafale and upgraded F-16s will create one of the most powerful air forces in the wider region.
According to information, the procedures are being accelerated and on Monday the draft of the LOA (Letter of Offer and Acceptance) will reach the hands of the Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias. After the 14 days from the letter to Congress, which the process for tacitly approving the sale of the F-35 provides, this LOA takes a final and official form.
The sale of F-35s to Greece was also used by Washington as a lever of pressure to bend T.Erdogan and the warning was given by A.Blinken himself during his visit to Istanbul, who made it clear that if the process is not completed approval of Sweden’s accession to NATO immediately then Washington will proceed to approve the F-35 sale agreement to Greece.