World News | Greece Formally Requests to Buy F-35 Fighter Jets from US
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Greece has sent a letter of request to the United States to buy a squadron of F-35 fighter jets, the country's prime minister said Thursday, part of efforts to bolster its defence capabilities amid continuing tensions with neighbouring Turkey.
Athens, Jun 30 (AP) Greece has sent a letter of request to the United States to buy a squadron of F-35 fighter jets, the country's prime minister said Thursday, part of efforts to bolster its defence capabilities amid continuing tensions with neighbouring Turkey.
Speaking to reporters in Madrid during a NATO summit, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece intended to buy a squadron of the Lockheed Martin-made F-35s, with a possible option for a second squadron.
“Part of this procedure is the sending of the Letter of Request, which has occurred in recent days,” Mitsotakis said, stressing this was the start of a lengthy process and that Athens estimated it would not take delivery of the aircraft before 2027 or 2028.
Greek officials said one squadron would consist of 20 planes.
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Greece has already ordered 24 French-made Rafale fighter jets - six new and 18 previously in service with the French Air Force, as well as three French frigates.
Neighbors and NATO allies Greece and Turkey have long-running disputes over a series of issues, including territorial claims in the Aegean Sea and energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
Recent quarrels have focused on the Greek islands off Turkey's coast, with Ankara accusing Athens maintaining a military presence on the islands in breach of treaties. Greece maintains it is acting according to international law and is defending the islands in the face of Turkish hostility. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)