F-16V Block 72 Viper - The Ultimate Greek Viper

Pipimer · October 26, 2026, 2:32am

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F-16V Block 72 Viper - The best Viper in Greek hands

The Greek F-16V (Viper) is the Hellenic Air Force’s upgraded Block 52+ fleet (in the near future also block 50 will be upgraded), fitted with the APG-83 AESA radar and modern avionics to Block 70/72 standard. Over 60 aircraft have been delivered so far, with the full program of ~84 jets due for completion in 2027.

The Greek Viper

The Greek F-16V “Viper” is the Hellenic Air Force’s modernization of its F-16C/D Block 52+ and Block 52+ Advanced fighters to a configuration equivalent to the F-16 Block 70/72 standard. Under a 2018 Lockheed Martin contract, approximately 82–84 aircraft are being upgraded mainly at Hellenic Aerospace Industry’s Tanagra facilities. The core of the upgrade is the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 SABR AESA radar, which delivers longer detection ranges, multi-target tracking, interleaved air-to-air and air-to-ground modes, and high-resolution SAR mapping. Additional improvements include the Modular Mission Computer (MMC-7000), a large Center Pedestal Display, upgraded Link 16, Mode 5 IFF, Auto-GCAS, full NVIS compatibility, and JHMCS II helmet cueing. The aircraft retain the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine and continue to use the legacy ASPIS II self-protection suite (a cost-driven decision).

First upgraded aircraft returned to service in 2022. By September 2025 the 42nd jet had been delivered (halfway point), and deliveries continue toward completion in 2027. The Vipers are assigned primarily to the 115th Fighter Wing at Souda (squadrons 340, 343, and later 337). Greece originally considered upgrading its entire Block 50/52 fleet but limited the current program to the more modern Block 52+/Advanced aircraft, plans for a possible further conversion of the remaining ~38 Block 50s remain under discussion, with recent events leading to the upgrade of the Block 50 to Vipers as well. Once complete, the Viper fleet will form the backbone of Hellenic combat aviation alongside Rafales and future F-35As, providing strong NATO interoperability and a bridge to fifth-generation operations.

General info about the standard Vipers

The F-16V “Viper” is Lockheed Martin’s most advanced evolution of the classic F-16 Fighting Falcon. Unveiled at the 2012 Singapore Airshow, it was designed as both a retrofit package for existing aircraft and a new-production standard (designated Block 70/72). The configuration centers on the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 AESA radar, a modern mission computer, a large center pedestal display, upgraded datalink and identification systems, and improved cockpit and safety features. The first F-16V with the APG-83 flew in October 2015, validating the design for both upgrades and new builds.

New-production Block 70/72 aircraft (built at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, South Carolina plant since 2019) offer a 12,000-hour structural life and typically include conformal fuel tanks and modern electronic-warfare suites. Bahrain became the launch customer for new-build jets, with other orders following from Slovakia, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Morocco, Jordan, and more recently Peru. Parallel retrofit programs have been undertaken by Taiwan, Greece, South Korea, Morocco, and others. Today the F-16V represents the current production baseline of the world’s most widely operated fourth-generation fighter, bridging legacy fleets toward fifth-generation interoperability.

Technical Specifications

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Crew: 1
Length: 15.03–15.06 m
Wingspan: 9.45 m (≈ 9.96 m with tip missiles)
Height: 4.88–5.09 m
Empty weight: ≈ 8,500–9,200 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 21,772 kg
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 (or F100-PW-229EEP) afterburning turbofan
Dry thrust: ≈ 79 kN
Thrust with afterburner: ≈ 129–130 kN
Maximum speed: Mach 2+ (≈ 2,050–2,170+ km/h at altitude)
Service ceiling: ≈ 15,240–17,000 m
Radar: Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 SABR (AESA)

Additional systems

IFF: AN/APX-126 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe with Mode 5
Self-protection suite: Existing ASPIS II (Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suite II) is the electronic warfare self-protection system fitted to Hellenic Air Force F-16 Block 52+/52+ Advanced aircraft and retained on the upgraded F-16Vs. Developed by Raytheon, it integrates a Northrop Grumman AN/ALR-93(V) radar warning receiver, a Raytheon AN/ALQ-187 jammer with digital RF memory, and BAE Systems AN/ALE-47 chaff/flare dispensers. The system detects threats, jams enemy radars, and deploys countermeasures. Contracted in 2003, it remains the current suite on Greek Vipers, though more modern digital alternatives are under consideration for future upgrades.
Mission computer: Modular Mission Computer MMC-7000AH
Data link: Upgraded Link 16
Navigation: Embedded GPS/INS (EGI)
Other: Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS), Center Pedestal Display (CPD), provisions for Sniper targeting pod and JHMCS II helmet cueing

Armament

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Internal Gun:

M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm six-barrel rotary cannon

Air to Air missiles:

ΑΙΜ-120 C-5 (ΑΜRΑΑΜ)
ΑΙΜ-120 C-7 (ΑΜRΑΑΜ)
AIM-2000 (IRIS-T)
ΑΙΜ-9 L/I
ΑΙΜ-9 L/I-1
ΑΙΜ-9M

Air to Ground Munitions:

GBU-50 EP II
GBU-24A/B Paveway III LGB
GBU-24E/B Paveway III GPS/LGB
GBU-31(V)1/B JDAM [Mk84]
GBU-31(V)3/B JDAM [BLU-109/B]
GBU-24E/B Paveway III GPS/LGB [BLU-109A/B]
GBU-10E/B Paveway II LGB [Mk84]
GBU-12D/B Paveway II LGB
GBU-49/B Paveway II GPS/LGB [Mk82]
AGM-65A/B Maverick IR
AGM-65G Maverick IR
AGM-154C JSOW
SPICE 1000
SPICE 2000
RAMPAGE
DWS.39 AFDS

Anti Radiation Missiles:
AGM – 88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM)

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 lbs

In the talks are AIM-120D AMRAAM , AIM-260 JATM, AIM-9X Sidewinder, AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-158 JASSM-ER, GBU-53/B StormBreaker.

More Photos

Extra photos

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