Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

Greece formally approved an offer to buy 20 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from the United States as part of a major defense overhaul, government officials said on July 25.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said while visiting a military air base near Athens that the purchase would create "a powerful deterrent presence in our region."

Lockheed Martin welcomed Greece into the F-35 program on Thursday, announcing that Athens had sent the signed Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the procurement of 20 fighter jets.

Athens has officially signed a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) with Washington for the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed on Thursday.

"We are building a powerful military force by purchasing the most advanced fighter jet in the world," he said during a visit to the Elefsina Air Base west of Athens.

Greece's parliamentary armament committee approved four military procurement programs for the Air Force and Navy on Thursday, following a briefing by Defense Minister Nikos Dendias.

The US government's letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for the Greek request for the procurement of an F-35 fighter squadron is expected to be submitted for approval to a special committee of Greek Parliament in the coming week.

In the next 20 days the Greek Parliament will be called upon to ratify the US Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the supply of the F-35 fighter jets, Kathimerini understands.

The letter of acceptance (LOA) regarding Greece's request for the supply of F-35 fighter jets has been in the General Directorate of Defense Equipment and Investments since Wednesday morning.

Parliament on Tuesday will approve the procurement program for 35 Black Hawk (UH-60M) helicopters at a total cost of 1.15 billion euros, with Defense Minister Nikos Dendias stressing on Monday that by 2030 Greece country should have 200 4.5- and 5th-generation aircraft, envisioning a fleet of F-16 Vipers, Rafales and F-35s.

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias outlined the government's plan for restructuring the Armed Forces under the "Agenda 2030" on Monday, emphasizing fighter jet acquisition, Navy Fleet enhancement and the domestic defense industry's role in autonomous systems and missile defense.

Türkiye will focus its efforts on advancing its domestically produced fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, amid uncertainty over its potential return to the F-35 joint strike fighter program, defense sources have said.