Greece is close to becoming the next customer of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, with the signing of a contract for 40 aircraft. According to the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Panaiotopoulos, the country should soon close a purchase with the US government.

Panaiotopoulos revealed the information during an interview with the Greek channel ERT 1, where he also stated that the Hellenic Air Force should receive the first batch in 2028, if there are no setbacks. In June last year, Athens signed the letter formally requesting the purchase of 20 to 24 fighter jets F-35A, with an option for 20 more planes. The Minister's speech suggests that the country should exercise this option. 

Also according to the leader of the folder, the characteristics and specifications of the planes, as well as the terms of the contract, have not yet been defined. While he said this process takes time, Panaiotopoulos noted that it happens to everyone. 

Later that month, the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Robert Menendez, said he had approved the sale of the F-35s to Greece. This subsequently led to the established process of US government approval and ratification of the defense treaty, highlights the BulgarianMilitary. In addition to the F-35s, Athens has also acquired 24 new and second-hand Dassault Rafale fighters, while upgrading its F-16 Fighting Falcon to Block 70 standard. 

While the news is good for Greece, for Turkey it is a bad sign. The two countries are experiencing historic disputes, which have already generated military incidents and an arms race in the region. Turkey participated and invested a considerable amount in the development of the F-35, but was expelled from the program in 2019 after purchasing S-400 anti-aircraft systems from Russia.  

This process has weakened diplomatic relations between Washington and Ankara. At the same time that it is trying to buy new F-16 fighters and update its extensive fleet of the model, Turkey is also betting on the development of its own 5th generation fighter, the TAI TF-X, while also having eyes for the Eurofighter Typhoon.