Greek BVRAAM Requirement

I’m not sure Greece actually has an official requirement for a BVRAAM, but currently, the HAF has shown a great interest in beyond visual range weapons, already deploying the Patriot PAC-2/3 and the
S-300PMU-1 in the surface-air role.

Greece has a lot of territory and a lot of airspace to defend from its main adversary, Turkey, and possible future enemies which could include FYROM, Albania or perhaps terrorist forces.

Because the coverage of long-range SAM’s only covers a very small percentage of all Greece’s territories and seaspace between her major ally, Cyprus, she needs the ability to project air-dominance over a wide area.

This role falls to the Hellenic multirole F-16C Falcon / Viper, of which Greece has 78 and is due to recieve 60 more. This can also be supported by Mirage-2000’s and F-4E Phantoms.

But in sheer numerical terms, Greece is grossly outnumbered by Turkish aircraft, and also lacks any form of credible airborne refueling platform to boost the operational range of her jets.

To compensate, Greece would do well to invest in an advanced Beyond Visual Range Weapon system that would be compatible with her aircraft. The French MICA would be an excellent choice as it would be compatible with her Mirage-2000’s, though these are few in number.

It is unlikely that the USA or UK would provide Greece with a BVRAAM as this would upset the balance of air power in the Aegean between the two NATO states.

This was illustrated by the US refusal to supply Greece with SM-2 Standard SAM capable Kidd-class destroyers.

Short of this, Greece could have tried to procure F-14D Tomcats equipped with Phoenix (assuming she could ever afford the $80 mill per aircraft).