May 5, 2003 (by Lieven Dewitte) -
The Greek air force's 115th Fighter Wing at the Cretan port of Hania yesterday took delivery of six out of a total of 60 F-16 block 52+ jets. The F-16s replace A7 bombers which have already been transferred to other air force units. Another 30 F-16s are due to be delivered by Christmas, and the remaining 24 will arrive by the end of April 2004.
Greece plans to deploy the advanced F-16s to protect the country's air space. Defense minister Yiannos Papantoniou said Greece regards the protection of its air space over the Aegean Sea as a priority.
