List of equipment of the Hellenic Army

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.

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 range
21	TOR-M1
39	SA-8 Gecko
54	ASRAD-HELLAS	With 426 FIM-92 Stinger Block 1 missiles. VSHORADS
664	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 Systimata
506	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	Carl Gustaf M2 Recoilless Rifle	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 Systimata
624	M30	107 mm 256 in use on the M106A1/A2 AMC
Armored 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 Systimata
500	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 storage
1,134	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 205	26 73	AB205 built by Agusta
Bell 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-64DHA	19 10	13 to be upgraded to D (+7) Apache Longbow
Boeing 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

Main article: List of historical equipment of the Hellenic Army

References

1. ^ 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.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.