Greece plans to request the transfer from the United States of part of the AH-64D Apache attack helicopters that will be retired by the U.S. Army by 2026. In total, around 100 units will be withdrawn from active service, and Athens intends to receive up to 30 of them, divided into two batches of 15 aircraft each.
According to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, although the official request has not yet been submitted to the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation in Athens, preliminary contacts between the two countries have already taken place — and the American side has reportedly confirmed the availability of the helicopters.
The first diplomatic step will take place during the AUSA International Exhibition in the United States, where Greece is expected to formalize its interest. The Greek delegation will be led by the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Georgios Kostidis.
Transfer through the EDA program
If the agreement moves forward, the transfer will be carried out through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program, which allows U.S. allies to receive surplus military equipment free of charge — paying only for transportation and refurbishment costs.
Athens’ interest reflects the critical state of its current Apache fleet. Of the 28 helicopters in service (19 AH-64A and 9 AH-64D), only one is fully operational, according to military sources. The lack of available spare parts was further worsened by a fire at the Stefanovikio Air Base, one of the Greek Army’s main maintenance centers.
Other U.S. equipment on the radar
In addition to the helicopters, Greece is also considering requesting armored vehicles and other surplus systems from the U.S. arsenal. Negotiations are expected to gain momentum following the arrival of the new U.S. ambassador to Athens, Kimberly Guilfoyle, scheduled for late October.
The acquisition of upgraded Apache helicopters would significantly enhance the Hellenic Army’s attack and reconnaissance capabilities at a time of increasing modernization of Greece’s armed forces, which also includes new fighter jets, frigates, and air defense systems.
Source: Kathimerini | U.S. Army. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
