- Yes
- No
The F-16D Block 52+ has the ability of SEAD, deep strike in enemy territory, air superiority, training and many more making it a true multirole. F-16D Block 52+ operate mostly in Crete in HAF 115 Combat Wing, 115 CW is comprised of two squadrons, 340 Mira “Alepou” (Fox) and 343 Mira “Asteri” (Star).
The F-16C/D Block 52+ History
The F-16C/D Block 52+ represents a refined multirole version of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Fighting Falcon. Designed mainly for overseas customers, it emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s as an enhanced offshoot of the preceding Block 50/52 series.
Those earlier Block 50/52 aircraft began rolling off the production line around 1991. They featured several significant improvements: more powerful engines (the Block 52 models specifically received the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229), an upgraded AN/APG-68 radar and associated avionics, better self-protection systems, and a broader range of weapons. This package gave them stronger capabilities with precision-guided munitions and, in certain setups, the ability to conduct Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses missions using the AGM-88 HARM missile.
Unlike the baseline Block 50/52, the Block 52+ was never fielded in its pure form by the United States Air Force; it was developed almost exclusively for export. Greece became the lead customer, receiving its first aircraft on 2 May 2003 through the Peace Xenia III program after placing an order for more than fifty jets in 2000–2001. Athens later obtained additional, further-upgraded examples sometimes labeled Block 52M.
Poland placed the next major order in 2003 under the Peace Sky program, contracting for 48 aircraft—36 single-seat F-16Cs and 12 two-seat F-16Ds. The first Polish jet took to the air in March 2006, and the full fleet was delivered by 2008; these aircraft are known in Polish service as the Jastrząb. Israel acquired a specialized two-seat version designated F-16I Sufa (“Storm”), which incorporates extensive indigenous avionics, electronic-warfare suites, and other tailored systems. Additional operators of Block 52-standard or closely related aircraft have included Pakistan, Singapore, and several other nations.
Manufacture of Block 50/52 and Block 52+ airframes continued through the mid-2000s, with the U.S. taking delivery of its last examples around 2005. A large number of these jets remain operational today and many have undergone upgrades that bring them closer to the later F-16V / Block 70/72 standard. In its original configuration, the Block 52+ ranks among the most capable non-AESA “legacy” Vipers produced before the introduction of the Block 60 and the full Viper family.
Greece was the first country in the world to operate the advanced F-16C/D Block 52+. Under the Peace Xenia III program, the Hellenic government signed a contract in June 2000 for 50 aircraft and later exercised an option for ten more in September 2001, bringing the total order to 60 jets—40 single-seat F-16Cs and 20 two-seat F-16Ds.
These aircraft were fitted with conformal fuel tanks, the AN/APG-68(V)9 radar, Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System compatibility, and upgraded avionics and self-protection systems. The conformal tanks add roughly 450 liters of extra fuel while imposing almost no penalty on maneuverability (unlike conventional external tanks), reduce maximum speed by only about 5 percent, can be fitted in one hour or removed in ninety minutes, and leave all access panels clear. Although the precise number of tank sets acquired by the Hellenic Air Force has never been published, estimates place the figure somewhere between 20 and 40.
The first F-16C Block 52+ was formally handed over on 2 May 2003, and the entire Peace Xenia III batch had been delivered by June 2004. The majority of the aircraft were assigned to 115 Combat Wing at Souda Air Base on Crete, where they equipped 340 Squadron “Fox” and 343 Squadron “Star.” A smaller contingent joined 337 Squadron “Ghost” at Larissa under 110 Combat Wing.
A follow-on purchase, Peace Xenia IV, was signed in December 2005 for 30 additional Block 52+ Advanced aircraft (20 F-16Cs and 10 F-16Ds), often referred to in Greece as Block 52M. These jets incorporated further improvements, most notably Link-16 datalink capability. Deliveries began in May 2009 at Araxos Air Base (116 Combat Wing) and concluded in 2010; the new aircraft primarily equipped 335 Squadron “Tiger.”
Taken together, the two programs supplied the Hellenic Air Force with 90 Block 52+/52M fighters—the largest single F-16 variant in Greek service. The type markedly increased the force’s multirole reach by providing greater combat radius through the conformal tanks, improved all-weather precision-strike performance, and modern air-to-air and SEAD weapons options. In the strike role the Block 52+ largely replaced the aging A-7 Corsair while retaining a strong air-to-air capability.
Today the fleet remains a central element of the Hellenic Air Force’s front-line strength. Many of the aircraft are already being, or are scheduled to be, upgraded to the F-16V “Viper” (Block 72) standard under a modernization effort that began with the Block 52+/52M force. The upgrade package adds an AESA radar, more powerful mission computers, improved cockpit displays, and enhanced electronic-warfare systems, ensuring these Greek Vipers will remain among Europe’s most capable fourth-generation fighters well into the 2030s.
Spoiler
- Crew: 2 (Pilot and Weapon Systems Officer)
- Length: 15.06 m
- Wingspan: 9.96 m
- Height: 4.88 m
- Empty Weight: approx. 8,900 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight: 19,200 kg
- Powerplant: 1x Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 turbofan
- Dry thrust: 79.2 kN (17,800 lbf)
- Thrust with afterburner: 129.7 kN (29,160 lbf)
- Max Speed: Mach 2.05 (2,175 km/h) at high altitude / Mach 1.2 at sea level
- Service Ceiling: 15,240+ m (50,000+ ft)
- Radar: Northrop Grumman AN/APG-68(V)9
- Defensive Systems: ASPIS (Integrated RWR, Jammer, and Flares/Chaff)
Spoiler
All Greek Fighting Falcons, apart from their distinctive “Ghost” camouflage, have a tail fin root extension for the drag parachute. On there is also the probe of the ASPIS II for the rearward detection of incoming missiles.
All Hellenic F-16s except the Block 30s feature the AN/APX-113 IFF interrogator antennas in front of the canopy. The Block 30s are the only Greek F-16s which have a intercept light on the starboard side of the fuselage, just below and in front of the canopy.
Spoiler
The color scheme of the HAF F-16s is known as the “Ghost” or “Aegean Ghost” scheme and is one of the most interesting in modern military aviation. This distinctive camouflage was first tested on several aircraft such as the Mirage F-1CG but was never used. It was adopted on some F-5As for a short period of time just before their retirement, but more extensively used on all the F-4E Phantom IIs after their AUP upgrade. All the F-16s in Hellenic service wear this scheme but in this case this a special coating has been applied.
This coating is a new technology called “Have Glass” which reduces the Radar Cross Section (RCS). The paint included in this Have Glass program is called Pacer Gem. Used on the later airframes (52+ and 52M), the coating alters the appearance of the paint visually. It is very rough to the touch and contains shiny flakes, almost like metal flake paint.
On the F-16 Block 52M the Have Glass III coating is much cleaner, but on the F-16 Block 52+ the Have Glass II coating has after all these years resulted in a distinctive grey and weathered camouflage. From my point of view this metallic, dirty looking paint looks wonderful on them!
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Air to Air missiles:
ΑΙΜ-120 C-5 (ΑΜRΑΑΜ)
ΑΙΜ-120 C-7 (ΑΜRΑΑΜ)
AIM-2000 (IRIS-T) Infrared Imaging Seeker – Tail
ΑΙΜ-9 L/I
ΑΙΜ-9 L/I-1
ΑΙΜ-9MAir to Ground Munitions:
AFDS (Autonomous Free-flight Dispenser System)
CBU 58 & 71
GBU-50 EP II
GBU-24 PW III
GBU-10-12-16 (Guided Bomb Unit)
GBU-31 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition)
AGM-65 A/B
AGM-65 G
AGM-154 Joint Stand Off Weapon (JSOW)Dumb bombs
Mk-81 General Purpose (GP) Bomb
Mk-82 General Purpose (GP) Bomb
Mk-82 500lb / Mk-15 Snakeye
Mk-83 General Purpose (GP) Bomb
Mk-84 General Purpose (GP) Bomb
Mk 36 Destructor bomb
MK-20 ROCKEYE
BLU-109/B (Bomb Live Unit)
Μ-129 Leaflet 250 lbs
M-117 General Use 750 lbsAnti Radiation Missiles:
AGM – 88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM)Internal Gun:
M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm six-barrel rotary cannon
Spoiler
- https://www.haf.gr/arsenal/f-16-cd-block-52/
- cmano-db.com
- Hellenic Air Force 115 Combat Wing - Souda's Vipers - Chania, Crete, Greece - MILAVIA Military Aviation Specials
- ΖΕΥΣ - Photos | Flickr
- F-16 - Παραγγελίες αεροσκαφών
- F-16C/D - Block 50/52 - F-16.net
- F-16 Peace Xenia - Hellenic Air Force
- https://www.haf.gr/arsenal/
- https://www.haf.gr/demoteam/omada-aeroporikon-epideikseon-memonomenou-aeroskafous-f-16-zefs/
