10月8日，雅典消息：两位知情人士周四向路透社透露，继美国国务卿马尔科·鲁比奥访问希腊一天后，希腊已同意出资最高40亿美元用于升级更多F-16战斗机并采购美国制造的先进导弹。
ATHENS, Oct 8 - Greece has agreed to spend up to $4 billion upgrading more of its F-16 fighter jets and buying advanced missiles from the US, two senior sources told Reuters on Thursday, a day after a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
此前希腊已计划到2036年投入约280亿欧元用于购买美国制造的F-35战斗机与直升机，同时打造名为“阿喀琉斯之盾”的多层反导及防空系统，该系统将配备以色列制造的武器。
Greece had already planned to spend about €28 billion by 2036 to buy US made F-35 fighter jets and helicopters, and to build the "Achilles Shield" a multi-layer anti-ballistic and anti-aircraft system with Israeli-made weapons.
一位希腊国防部高级官员向路透社表示：“此次协议涵盖为F-16“蝰蛇”战斗机、F-35战斗机以及“黑鹰”直升机配备新型先进导弹与炸弹，同时还将对老款F-16战斗机进行“蝰蛇”版本的升级。”
"The agreement includes new advanced missiles and bombs for the F-16 Viper the F-35 fighter jets, and the Black Hawk helicopters. Also the upgrade of old F-16 fighter jets to Viper version," a senior defence Ministry official told Reuters.
该官员补充称，大部分采购项目均已纳入希腊政府的多年防务规划，不会给国家财政带来额外负担。一位外交部高级官员也证实了上述信息，并指出相关费用将分多年支付。
The official added that most of the procurements have been included in the government's multi year defence plan and will not put additional pressure to the country's financials. A senior foreign ministry official confirmed the above, adding that the cost will be spread over several years.
鲁比奥周三在雅典表示，这两个北约盟友已就两国执法机构间反恐信息共享事宜达成联合安全计划。
Rubio said on Wednesday in Athens that the two NATO allies had agreed on a joint security plan for counterterrorism information sharing between their law enforcement agencies.
2024年希腊已决定采购20架洛克希德·马丁公司生产的F-35战斗机以及35架西科斯基UH-60M“黑鹰”直升机。目前希腊正在对约82架F-16战斗机进行“蝰蛇”版本升级，还计划再对37架Block 50型F-16进行同类升级，相关费用约为10亿美元。
Greece agreed to buy 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets and 35 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters in 2024. Is upgrading about 82 F-16s to Viper version and wants to upgrade 37 more Block 50s to Vipers at a cost of about $1 billion.
此举是希腊在摆脱2009至2018年间的债务危机、结束多年财政紧缩后，推进武装力量现代化的重要举措。由于与土耳其长期存在领土争端，希腊目前的国防开支占国内生产总值的比例接近3.5%，这一比例高于多数其他北约成员国。
The move is part of Greece's bid to modernise its armed forces as it emerges from the 2009-18 debt crisis that led to years of austerity. Greece spends nearly 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defence, a higher proportion than many other NATO countries, due to its long-standing dispute with Turkey.