- List of equipment of the Hellenic Army
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The heavy equipment and weaponry of the Hellenic Army is of mostly foreign manufacture, from German, French, American, British and Russian suppliers. A notable exception is the native-built Leonidas armored fighting vehicle.
Equipment runs the gamut from state-of-the art to obsolescent Cold War inventories; the latter are gradually being retired.
Contents
Rifles, sidearms and support weapons
Weapon Caliber Notes HK G3 7.62x51 mm NATO made under license by EAS Ak-47 7.62x39 mm Special Forces and EKAM Ak-74 5.45x39 mm Special Forces M16A2 assault rifle 5.56x45 mm NATO Special Forces / Navy / ISAF Forces Afghanistan. M4 carbine 5.56x45 mm NATO Special Forces / Navy M14 7.62x51 mm NATO Navy Heckler & Koch USP 9x19mm Pistol Colt M1911 .45 ACP Pistol Glock 17 9x19 mm NATO special forces and marines HK MP5 9x19 mm NATO Submachine Gun HK 11A1 7.62x51 mm NATO Squad Weapon FN MAG 7.62x51 mm NATO Machine Gun FN MINIMI 5.56x45 mm NATO Made under license by EAS MG3 7.62x51 mm NATO made under license by EAS M60 7.62x51 mm NATO Machine Gun M2HB 0.50 BMG Machine Gun M203 40x46 mm Grenade Launcher M79 40x46 mm Grenade Launcher Barrett M82A1M 12.7 x 99 mm NATO special forces and marines Barrett M95 12.7 x 99 mm NATO special forces Steyr SSG 69 7.62 x 51 mm NATO Special Forces Kefefs 7.62 x 51 mm NATO special forces, produced locally - Greece signed a contract with Heckler and Koch, for 112.270 5,56 mm G36 assault rifle. They would replace G-3 assault rifles as standard rifle of the Army, meaning Greece will adopt 5.56 mm caliber. The rifles would be asembled locally by Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS). The purchase has been frozen.
Heavy armament
Main Battle Tanks
CFE treaty limit: 1,735 170 Leopard 2A6 HEL 120 mm gun 183 Leopard 2A4 120 mm gun 501/19 Leopard 1A5/GR 105 mm gun 390 M48A5 MOLF (Modular Laser Fire Control System) 105 mm gun - In 1981 Greece ordered 106 Leopard 1A3 GR MBTs plus 4 armoured recovery vehicles, delivered between 1983 and 1984. Almost 170 Leopard 1V were donated by the Netherlands in 1991.
- In 2003 the Greek army ordered 170 new Leopard 2A6 HEL (Hellenic), to be jointly produced by the German Krauss Maffei and the Greek ELVO firms and delivered between 2006 and 2009.
- In 2005 Greece purchased 333 used tanks: 183 Leopard 2A4s and 150 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks from Bundeswehr reserves. This raised the number of Leopard 1 tanks in Greek service to almost 350, and added Leopard 2A4 tanks to Greece’s inventory. Leopard 2A4 tanks have been quipped with a 105mm cannon for training purposes ( to exploit the existing large stock of 105mm ammunition ), allowing quick restoration of the original L44 120mm cannon. Another 98 additional Leopard 1A5 tanks were delivered as an offset of the total Leopard 2 HEL procurement package.
- AMX-30B2 currently in reserve, and some units sold to Cyprus.
- At least 312 M-60A3 were in active service in 2009. M-48 and M-60 tanks supposed to be scrapped, sold or retired, as Leopard tanks are replacing them and CFE limit restricts the total number of tanks in service. United States transferred to Greece in 1992-93 538 M60A1 and 133 M60A3 tanks. Greece has donated at least 13 M60A3 tanks to help bolster Afghan tank platoons and may increase this number to almost 50 additional tanks. At least 350 M60 tanks of the Greek Army could be donated to Iraq.
- As of 2004, Greek Army tank crews are all professionals, not conscripts.
Armored Combat Vehicles/Carriers and Unarmored Vehicles
CFE treaty limit: 2,498 [1] Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles (AIFVs) 381 BMP-1P some in storage 501 Leonidas II Made by the Greek vehicle manufacturer ELBO including the 100 upgraded Leonidas 1 1,789 M 113A1/A2 Armored Personnel Carrier 3 M125A1 AMC Armored mortar carrier, based on M113.
Equipped with the M29 (81 mm) mortar.Armored ATGM Carriers 290+90? M901/M901A1 ITV Armored BGM-71 TOW carrier, based on M113 12 M113 TOW M113 vehicle mounting a BGM-71 TOW launcher. Armored Command Vehicles 68+130? M577A2 Armored command vehicle, based on M113 Armored Wheeled Vehicles 243 VBL Various Versions 695 HMMWV Various Versions - not all of them armored 5 MaxxPro Unarmored Wheeled Vehicle 8,300 Mercedes-Benz G-Class Made under License by ELBO -Various Versions 160 Oshkosh 8x8 Truck 150 M35 2½ ton cargo truck A2 120 MAN 6x6, 8x8 Truck 850 Steyr Trucks made under License by ELBO (Type: Steyr 12M18) 110 Unimog Various Versions ? Tatra - The first version of the 'Leonidas' was the Austrian Saurer 4K 4FA Armored Personnel Carrier built with minor local modifications, built from 1981 until 1987. The 'Leonidas-2' involved extensive modification of the previous model, with the aim to essentially develop it as an Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV). 503 Leonidas vehicles of both versions delivered to Greece and 197 to Cyprus.
- All M-113 vehicles in the Hellenic Army have been upgraded to or acquired with at least the A1 modifications.
- Germany sold 400 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, formerly operated by East Germany.
- Greece had the intention to donate some of its 500 BMP-1 to the Iraqi Army. 36 refurbished BMP-1 were delivered in November 2005 and 64 BMP-1s in December 2006.
- The Panhard VBL was acquired after the need for armored reconnaissance vehicles was identified by the Army's involvement in peacekeeping operations.
Artillery
CFE treaty limit: 1,920 (calibers > 100 mm) [2] Rocket Artillery 36 M270 MLRS 12x227 mm
152x MGM-140A ATACMS Block 1 are also available.116 RM70 40x122 mm Self-propelled Artillery 145 M110A2 203 mm L40 to be phased out upon completion of the other programs 24 PzH 2000 155 mm L52. 12 M109A5 155 mm L39 223 M109A3GEA2 155 mm L39. 223 M109GEA2 with all the modernized systems including the AURORA system. Note that the AURORA PROGRAM includes many improvements over the M109A3/M109A5/A6 Palidan. It can also be linked to the all other artillery systems including the PzH-2000GR or act autonomous. 50 M109A3GEA1 155 mm L39 82 M109A2 155 mm L39 51 M109A1B 155 mm L39 Towed Artillery 266 in storage M114A1 155 mm L23 445 in storage M101 105 mm L22 18 Mod-56 pack howitzer 105 mm L14 Counter-battery Radar / Observation 3 ARTHUR (military) Radar-system 10 AN/TPQ-36 Radar-system 8 AN/TPQ-37 Radar-system 10 Stendor Radar-system ? Decca D-110 Radar-system 40 BOR A-550 Radar-system 20 MARGOT XXL Camera-Observation-system - 116 Second-hand Slovak-made RM-70 Grad multiple rocket launchers purchased in Germany in 1993, after the end of Cold War.
- In 2008 talks started with Germany for the transfer of 223 surplus German M109A3GE-A2 howitzers to Greece. The deal was signed on the 17th of February 2010. Once deliveries of the 223 howitzers is completed all towed artillery in the Greek Army will be withdrawn, with the exception of 18 M56 Pack guns.
- The Greek Army has 24 PzH 2000 155mm systems, delivered between July 2003 and June 2004.
Air Defense Artillery and Radar
Air Defense - Missile Systems 42 MIM-23B Improved HAWK - Phase III PIP 7 batteries x 6 missile launchers each
Medium range21 TOR-M1 39 SA-8 Gecko 54 ASRAD-HELLAS With 426 FIM-92 Stinger Block 1 missiles.
VSHORADS664 FIM-92B/C Stinger-POST & Stinger Block 1 MANPADS Air Defense - Gun Systems 17 Artemis 30 2x 30x173 mm
Made by the Greek weapons manufacturer Ellinika Amyntika Systimata506 ZU-23-2 2x 23x152 mm (B) 285 Mk20 RH-202 2x 20x139 mm Air Defense - Radar 3 Casta 2E1 Surveillance radar 5 P-19 radar Surveillance radar - In 2000 the Hellenic Army decided to procure 54 vehicle-mounted ASRAD-HELLAS systems. A modular missile system featuring high firepower for day and night operation, each ASRAD-HELLAS weapon system carries four ready-to-fire Stinger missiles and holds an additional four missiles ready for a fast reload. The system is operated by a 2-man team, consisting of the driver, who has the secondary task of air space observer, and the operator of the weapon system.
- The 23 mm ZU-23 lightweight, automatic, towed antiaircraft gun entered the Army arsenal after years of service with the East German army.
- The Artemis 30 was originally developed in 1982, to protect all branches of the Armed Forces from medium and low level attack aircraft.
- With units entering service both from East German and Russian sources, the 9M33 Osa (SA-8) short range surface to air missile system was acquired to maximize the protection offered to Army units. In the mid-1990s Germany sold 13 Osa surface-to-air missile. The Greek government requested its upgrade as the Osa-AKM. The Russians later sold another 16 Osa-AKMs. Greece was so pleased that also ordered 31 Russian-made Thor-M1 (SA-15) short-range surface-to-air missiles under 1999 and 2000 contracts.
- Greece bought the S-300 anti-aircraft and anti-missile system, deciding not to purchase the Patriot PAC-3 anti-ballistic missile interceptor system. The Greek government, realizing that the United States would not allow it to buy the Russian missile system and the Patriot PAC-3, asked Cyprus to buy the S-300. Turkey protested and blocked Cyprus from buying Russia's S-300. Patriots PAC-3 are operated by the Air force, 350th Guided Missile Wing.
- Hellenic Hawk Phase II Upgrade Program brought in 1995 Greek 42 Hawk launchers (7 batteries) to updated version. Ten launchers later updated to more updated version in 1999.
Heavy Infantry Weapons
Anti-tank Guided Missiles 196 9M133 Kornet E ATGM 366 BGM-71 TOW II ATGM 400 MILAN ATGM Most of MILAN I have been upgraded to MILAN II 262 9M111 Fagot ATGM Anti-tank Recoilless Rifles 1,988 84 mm 1,291 M40 recoilless rifle 106 mm / some of them are mounted on Jeeps 1,346 M67 recoilless rifle 90 mm 135 LRAC 89 mm STRIM 89 mm Anti-tank Rocket launchers 18,706 RPG-18 64 mm 10,841 M72A2 LAW 66 mm Heavy Mortars - 100 mm and above (CFE treaty caliber limit) 316 E56 120 mm
Made by the Greek weapons manufacturer Ellinika Amyntika Systimata624 M30 107 mm
256 in use on the M106A1/A2 AMCArmored Mortar Carriers - 100 mm and above (CFE treaty caliber limit) 256 M106A1/A2 AMC Armored mortar carrier, based on M113.
Most vehicles are equipped with the M30 (107 mm) mortar but 120 will be equipped with the E-56 (120 mm) mortar.Medium and Light Mortars - bellow 100 mm (CFE treaty caliber limit) 690 E-44E1 81 mm
Made by the Greek weapons manufacturer Ellinika Amyntika Systimata500 M2 60 mm 125 Hirtenberger M6C-210 60 mm
Produced by the Greek weapons manufacturer Ellinika Amyntika Systimata under license from |Hirtenberger of Austria.1,616 M1 81 mm
In storage1,134 M29Α1 81 mm Automatic Grenade Launchers 633 HK GMG 40x53 mm made under License by EAS ? MK19 Mod3 40x53 mm
Small number in use from Special Forces- The Kornet anti-tank guided weapon system is fitted to 4x4 vehicles. Greece has 196 launchers with 1100+ missiles, in service as of 2008.
- 59 M270 MLRS transferred from United States of America to Greece between 1995 and 2001.
- Greece operates roughly 2.500 M113's and variants, many of them in poor state. Many of them transferred from other NATO armies.
- Netherlands donated almost 170 M-30 107mm mortar due to CFE restrictions.
- 19.793 RPG-18[64-mm] bought from from East Germany stocks in 1993
Other Armored Vehicles
Medical Evacuation Vehicles 54 M 113A1 MEDEVAC 70+ Humvee Ambulance ? Mercedes-Benz G-Class Ambulance Combat Engineering Vehicles 14 Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs Combat Engineering Vehicle based on Leopard-1 chassis. 19 Pionierpanzer Wiesent 1HEL Combat Engineering Vehicle based on Leopard-1 chassis. On order. Armored Vehicle-launched Bridges 8 Leopard-1 Leguan Armored Vehicle-launched Bridge based on Leopard-1 chassis. 10 Leopard-1 Biber Armored Vehicle-launched Bridge based on Leopard-1 chassis. 12 M60A1 AVLB Armored Vehicle-launched Bridge based on M60A1 chassis. 22 M48A5 AVLB Armored Vehicle-launched Bridge based on M48A5 chassis. Armored Recovery Vehicles 12 Leopard II BUFALO HEL Armored Recovery Vehicle based on Leopard-2 chassis. 43 Leopard-1 ARV Armored Recovery Vehicle based on Leopard-1 chassis. 95 M88A1 Armored Recovery Vehicle of the Patton tanks family. Armored Demining Vehicles 10 Leopard-1V MP Armored Demining Vehicle based on Leopard-1 chassis. Gun was removed (in order to comply with CFE treaty limits on number of MBTs) and a Full Width Mine Plough (FWMP) from Pearson Engineering was added. Aircraft/Rotorcraft inventory
Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service[3] Notes Bell 205 United States
Italy
utility helicopter UH-1H Iroquois
AB 20526
73
AB205 built by AgustaBell 206 Italy
utility helicopter AB 206B-3 14 built by Agusta Bell 212 Italy
VIP AB 212 VIP 1 built by Agusta Boeing AH-64 Apache United States
attack helicopter AH-64A+
AH-64DHA19
1013 to be upgraded to D (+7)
Apache LongbowBoeing CH-47 Chinook United States
transport helicopter CH-47DG/SD 15 Cessna 180 United States
utility U-17A 14 NHI NH90 Europe
transport helicopter 3 17 ordered +14 Option C-12 Huron United States
VIP/photo recon aircraft C-12R 3 SAGEM Sperwer France
reconnaissance UAV 4 16 drones Schweizer 300 United States
training helicopter 300C 17 - The Army is looking to replace AB-205 and UH-1 helicopters in the immediate future.
- Greece bought ten CH-47Cs for the Army, nine of which were later upgraded by Boeing to the CH-47D standard. In 1999 Greece bought seven New Boeing CH-47D Chinooks. As of November 2008, Greece had 15 CH-47DG/SD Chinooks in use.
- In 1995 20 AH-64A+ were purchased. In 2003 Greece signed a contract for 12 AH-64D Longbow.
Historical equipment
References
- ^ According to the CFE treaty, the Armored Combat Vehicles category includes Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles (AIFVs), and Heavy Armament Combat Vehicles. Heavy Armament Combat Vehicles includes vehicles that were not MBTs, APCs or AIFVs but have an integral gun of at least 75 millimeter (mm) caliber and weight at least 6 tons.
- ^ According to the CFE treaty, the Artillery category includes guns, howitzers, mortars, multiple launch rocket systems, and artillery pieces that combine the characteristics of guns and howitzers.
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
Formations of the Hellenic Army
First Army I Army Corps 8th Infantry Division • 9th Infantry Brigade • 10th Infantry Brigade • 15th Infantry Brigade • 24th Armored BrigadeIV Army Corps 12th Mechanized Infantry Division (7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade • 31st Mechanized Infantry Brigade) • 16th Mechanized Infantry Division (3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade • 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade) • 20th Armored Division (21st Armored Brigade • 23rd Armored Brigade • 25th Armored Brigade) • 50th Mechanized Infantry BrigadeNDC-GR II Army Corps ASDEN 88th Military Command • 95th National Guard Higher Command • 80th National Guard Higher Command • 98th National Guard Higher Command • 79th National Guard Higher Command • 96th National Guard Higher Command • 5th Cretan DivisionASDYS Army Academy • Military Geographical Service Military of Greece
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