As part of a broad modernization program for its Armed Forces, Greece is considering the possible purchase of 30 AH-64D Apache attack helicopters that will be retired by the U.S. Army. These helicopters are part of a fleet of about one hundred units still operated by the institution. According to local media reports, the decision already has the approval of the General Staff, although it has not yet been formally submitted to the Defense Cooperation Office (ODC) that Washington maintains in Athens.
Expanding on the details, reports from the European country indicate that Athens intends to explore the potential acquisition during the AUSA 2025 fair, especially considering that Lieutenant General George Kostides (Chief of the Army General Staff) is expected to attend the event. Furthermore, it is speculated that the potential acquisition would take place in two batches of fifteen units each, to be carried out through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program, which would allow Greece to acquire these helicopters at no cost other than transportation. As a result, the country is expected to face competition from allied nations also seeking to acquire AH-64D helicopters.
On the other hand, it is important to note that the decision to move forward with a proposal such as the one described above would be a response to the low availability of the current Apache helicopter fleet operated by the Hellenic Army, which is composed of about 28 units in total: 19 of the A variant and 9 of the D variant. Notably, most of the fleet, made up of obsolete models, lacks the necessary spare parts to remain operational, a situation that has worsened since the flooding of Stefanovikeio Air Base in 2023.
In line with this, it should be noted that Greece’s intention to add a fleet of 30 units does not imply that all of them would be operational. Rather, the country plans to dismantle some of them and use them as spare parts stock as needed. This is a key factor, considering that the AH-64D fleet is expected to stop receiving official support in the near future, as the U.S. moves forward with the introduction of their replacements.
Broadening the scope on the aforementioned modernization of the Greek Armed Forces, it is also worth mentioning that the country is reportedly interested in other surplus platforms from the U.S. to be acquired through the EDA mechanism, with one of the main goals being to add new armored combat vehicles. However, it is stated that discussions to move forward with these potential additional acquisitions have been delayed due to the prolonged absence of a U.S. ambassador in Athens, an issue expected to be resolved with the arrival of Kimberly Guilfoyle, confirmed for the post on September 18.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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