Greece: C-130H stop-gap until C-130J are delivered
Back in February last year, Scramble reported about the urgent need for additional medium transport capabilities for the Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia (HAF, Hellenic Air Force). Refer to Urgent need for Hellenic Air Force Hercules replacement (scramble.nl).
It has now come to light that in the August 2023 Report to Congress, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State have given advance notice of the proposed transfer of two C-130 Hercules Aircraft to the Government of Greece as Excess Defense Articles (EDA). Scramble expects these to be excess USAF C-130H versions. These two additional Hercules’ would provide a stop-gap solution until the formal procurement of new C-130J Super Hercules is formalized.
In November 2023, representatives of the United States Air Force (USAF), the Department of Defense (DOD) and Lockheed Martin met with their Greek counterparts of the General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments (GDDIA) in Athens. The GDDIA is a government body that oversees the procurement of defense articles for the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense. During the meeting, the Letter of Intent (LOI) requesting the sale of four C-130J with an option for an additional two, was discussed. It seems that these negotiations have not been finalized yet as no formal Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification of the possible sale to Greece has been published.
The HAF is really in dire straits as they only have two C-130H operational currently: 747 with the Special 70 Years 356 TAS 1953-2023 tail art and 751 that was recently overhauled by OGMA at Alverca (Portugal)). 752 is undergoing deep maintenance at Hellenic Aircraft Industries (HAI) at Tanagra and has recently made a test flight. It is expected to return to active service soon. The proposed C-130H stop-gap solution would really be a welcome addition and will only set Greece back for approximately $12 million while the original acquisition value of the aircraft was $60 million. A bargain!