List of equipment of the Hellenic Army

The heavy equipment and weaponry of the Hellenic Army is of mostly foreign manufacture, from American, British, French, German and other suppliers. Exception are the Kentaurus and the Leonidas armored fighting vehicles which are built in Greece by the Hellenic Vehicle Industry.

Equipment runs the gamut from state-of-the-art to obsolescent Cold War inventories; the latter are gradually being retired as no funds are available for upgrade. Russian made equipment was received or purchased after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and second hand US and German equipment was transferred or purchased.

Recent defense spending cuts have had a big impact in operating costs (maintenance, technical support, operational training, transport and supplies). As 80% of the budget is spent on salaries and administrative costs the Hellenic Army faces the challenge of reorganizing its structure. This may lead to closing down some of the 500 military bases scattered across the country and reducing the size of the Army, transforming the Hellenic Army into a smaller but largely professional force.

Under the Force Structure 2005-2020 plan large-scale changes in the Army will be implemented. Only two categories of units will exist: active and mobilized (reserve). No main weapon systems will be allocated to mobilized units.

Small arms and infantry support weapons

Firearms
Quantity Weapon Image Origin Cartridge Notes
Pistols, submachine guns, assault rifles, battle rifles and carbines
HK USP  Germany Greece 9x19mm NATO [1]
HK MP5  West Germany Greece 9x19mm NATO [1]
M16A2/A3/A4/A2E  United States 5.56×45mm NATO [2]
M4 carbine  United States 5.56×45mm NATO [2][3]
HK G3A3/A4  West Germany Greece 7.62×51mm NATO Service rifle Made under license by Ellinika Amyntika Systimata (EAS), formerly under EBO.

Sizable number of rifles equipping frontline units got upgraded with SPUHR adjustable stock, aluminum handguard with foregrip and Picatinny rails accommodating Aimpoint CompM4 Red Dot optics. To be upgraded further.[4]

A smaller number of rifles were converted to the 'Sharpshooter' version utilizing FAB Defence, MAGPUL and VORTEX OPTICS aftermarket parts.[5][6][7]

Machine guns
FN Minimi  Belgium

 Greece

 5.56mm NATO Equipped with night vision binoculars NS467C by THEON Sensors. The first 750 pieces are available in two versions (Standard) and (PARA). The remaining 2,320 are MINIMI Mk. 2 with the same number of night-vision binoculars of third generation NS 685C made by THEON Sensors.[8][9][10]
HK11 A1  West Germany Greece 7.62×51mm NATO [1][11]
FN MAG  Belgium 7.62×51mm NATO FN series MAG machine guns continue to be used as highly reliable and functional, at least 1000 in service.[12][13][14]
Rheinmetall MG3  West Germany Greece 7.62×51mm NATO [1][15]
M2 Browning  United States Greece .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) [16]
Sniper rifles
Barrett Μ82Α1M  United States 12.7x99mm NATO In 2001, an order was placed directly with the American company for 132 rifles of the upgraded version M-82A1M (M-107 in American service) to which were added one-piece Picatinny rail, monopod on the stock and various other small improvements. May 2002, another smaller order (amounting to 92,754 euros) for the supply of 8 new rifles of the M-95 version. In October 2002 follows a new order - directly to Barrett again - amounting to 1,775,107 euros for an additional number of Μ-82Α1Μ rifles (Total 200-250).[17]

Infantry support weapons
Quantity Weapon Image Origin Notes
Mortars
120 E56 120mm Mortar  Greece 120mm, range 9 km[1]
700+ E44-E1 81mm Mortar  Greece 81mm, range 6 km[1][18]
125+ M6C-210 60mm Mortar  Greece 60mm, range 3 km[1]
Grenade launchers
M203 grenade launcher  United States 40mm[19]
M79 grenade launcher  United States 305mm[20]
HK GMG  Greece
 Germany		 40mm[21][19]
Anti-tank recoilless rifles
1,988 Carl Gustaf M2 Recoilless Rifle  Sweden
 Greece		 84mm, with passive night vision binoculars.[22][23][24]
AT4  Sweden 84mm[25]
RPG-18  Russia 64mm[26]
M72 LAW  United States 66mm[27]
~500 M40A1 recoilless rifle  United States 106mm[22][23]
Anti-tank guided missile launchers
BGM-71 TOW-2  United States [28][29]
400 launchers MILAN II / MILAN I  France
 West Germany		 Anti-tank guided missile, most MILAN I systems have been upgraded to MILAN II. 300 on order, deliveries in 2021-2023.[30] At least 130 launchers equipped with MIRA type thermal goggles, while 147 equipped with MILIS type thermal goggles. 42 launchers are mounted on M-1025A2 HMMWV vehicles and the 248 on MB-240GD vehicles.[23][31][32]
262 9K111 Fagot  Soviet Union East Germany Anti-tank guided missile from former East Germany, 262 FAGOT anti-tank systems, caliber 125mm.[23][33][22]
196 launchers/1,100 missiles 9M133 Kornet E  Russia [34][35]
Spike NLOS

 Israel Ordered (To be used on AH-64D attack helicopters, Osprey 55 class gunboats, coastal defences and possibly Heron TP UCAVs)[36]

Land vehicles and heavy armament

Main battle tanks

Greek CFE treaty limit: 1,735

Quantity Type Images Origin Notes
170 Leopard 2A6 HEL  Germany
 Greece		 [32][37]
183 Leopard 2A4/GR  Germany 120mm gun. Being equipped with C2 systems.[38][32][39]
500 Leopard 1A4/5  Germany 105mm gun.[32][22][40]
390 M48A5 MOLF  United States 105mm gun.[22][41]

Armored fighting vehicles/carriers

Greek CFE treaty limit of 2,498( IFVs / APCs).[42]

Quantity Type Images Origin Notes
Armored infantry fighting vehicles
493[22][23] Leonidas II  Greece Made by the Greek vehicle manufacturer ELBO, includes 90 upgraded Leonidas 1.
2108[23] M113A2  United States
257[23] M106A1/A2  United States 120 with E-56 EBO 120 mm / 137 with M29A1 mortars.[23]
188[22] BMP-1P Ost  Soviet Union Germany Most of them converted to ZU-23 carriers. 101 of the non converted vehicles were sold to Egypt[43]
Armored personnel carriers
1,210[23][32][22] M113A1  United States Armoured personnel carrier

Amphibious Armored personnel carriers

76[23][32][22] AAVP-7A1  United States Assault Amphibious Vehicle - Plans for a total of 120
Armored anti-tank guided missile carriers
362[32][22] M901/M901A1 ITV  United States Armored BGM-71 TOW carrier, based on M113.
Armored command vehicles
276[32][22] M577A2  United States Armored command vehicle, based on M113. As command stations and (63 units) fire control centers.[23]
Armored patrol and reconnaissance vehicles
~600[23] M1025A2 HMMWV  United States

 Greece

 ~ 270 built in Greece by ELVO (designations M1114GR to M1119GR) - Suspected Order of 500-600 Units.
240[32] VBL  France Various versions.
1200[32] M1117 Armored Security Vehicle  United States Unknown versions. 174/1200[44]

(270 more to arrive in june)

0[32] Cougar

 United States Suspected Order of 500 Units.

Engineering vehicles
Quantity Weapon Images Origin Notes
Armored recovery vehicles
12[22][32] Leopard II BUFALO HEL  Germany Greece Armoured recovery vehicle based on Leopard-2 chassis.
8[32] Leopard-2 Leguan[22]  Germany Armoured vehicle-launched bridge based on Leopard-2 chassis .
43[22] Leopard-1 ARV  Germany Armoured recovery vehicle based on Leopard-1 chassis (BPz-2 ARV).
12[32] Leopard-1 Biber[22]  Germany Armoured vehicle-launched bridge based on Leopard-1 chassis.
95[22] M88A1  United States Armored recovery vehicle of the Patton tanks family.
113[45] M578  United States Armored recovery vehicle.
? RIBBON floating bridge  United States Greece has the basic version[46]
? PMP Floating Bridge  Russia KrAZ-255B is used for transporting, launching and disengaging of PMP bridge pairs.[47]

Logistics & Support
Quantity Weapon Images Origin Notes
Armored recovery vehicles
10000[48] Steyr 680M  Austria

 Greece

 Pending decision on replacement.
8300[49] MB-240GD/-290GD  Germany

 Greece

 A total of over 10,000 units (5500 240GD and 4500 290GD) were built at the Sindos facility by ELBO the Hellenic Vehicles Industry.

It exists as a command vehicle, patrol / security units (equipped with a 7.62 mm MG3 or MAG machine gun), ambulance, radio carrier, but also as a carrier of guns and anti-tank missiles.

From 2022 the older ones will start to be withdrawn, with the total replacement of the fleet being placed around 2030.[50]

66[51] Steyr 40M60 HET  Austria

 Greece
73[52] MTVR MK27 6x6  United States

 Greece

 40 MK27 are fitted with medium recovery equipment supplied by Eyal of Israel.

33 are fitted out as ammunition transporter vehicles to operate alongside the Hellenic Army's Leopard MBTs.

300[53] FMTV  United States In various versions
320[54][55] HEMTT  United States M978, M985, M977 and M987P1. They were donated by the USA in 2014.
93[51] Oshkosh M911HET  United States 77 Oshkosh M911 HET 6×6 and 16 Oshkosh M911 HET 8×6
MAN 40.633 FX DFAETX (Steyr 40Μ60/S40)  Austria
MAN KAT1  Germany Ιn the role of transporting ammunition, and are already in service with the two self-propelled Medium Artillery Squadrons operating with the PzH2000GR of the Hellenic Army.
15[56] Mitsubishi L200  Japan The new 6th generation of the L200. To strengthen border patrols.

Artillery

Greek CFE treaty limit: 1,920 (calibers > 100 mm)[57]

Quantity Weapon Images Origin Notes
Rocket artillery
36[32] M270 MLRS  United States 12×227 mm

152 MGM-140A ATACMS Block 1 missiles are also available, under a program to be upgraded since 2021.

111 RM70  Czechoslovakia 40×122 mm
Currently under upgrade with the Serbian rockets G2000 to increase range.
Self-propelled artillery
25[32] PzH 2000  Germany 155 mm howitzer.
420[32] M109  United States
 Germany		 155mm howitzer. All vehicles are uppgraded with modernized systems including the AURORA system. It can also be linked to the other artillery systems including the PzH-2000GR or act autonomously.
145[22] M110A2  United States Still in service due to the large stock of ammunition available, to be phased out upon completion of the other programs.
Towed artillery
206 M114 155 mm howitzer  United States 155mm howitzer, in storage/service as of 2016.[58]
445[22] M101  United States 105mm howitzer.
18[22] OTO Melara Mod 56  Italy 105mm howitzer.
Counter-battery radar/Observation systems
20[32] BOR A-550  France The RADAR BOR-A-550 is a land and coastal surveillance radar (GSR) suitable for military use in coastal and land border surveillance operations.

Combines ground, sea and low flying target surveillance automatically classifying them day and night under any weather conditions.[59] Mounted on M-1118-2GR HMMWV[23]

10/8[32][23] AN/TPQ-36/37p
 United States The latest version of the AN / TPQ-36 is the (v) 10 with improved performance, higher computing power, lower operating costs and an increased maximum detection range of at least 50%.[23]
3[32][23] ARTHUR  Sweden Arthur is a lightweight, highly mobile weapon locating system (WLS), tactically deployed close to the forward line of own troops. Arthur is in currently operational in twelve countries, among them Norway, Sweden, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Spain, Italy, Greece and the UK.[60]
3[32][23] Kasta 2E1  Russia
10[23] Stentor  France Stentor radar is designed to detect, recognize, and locate moving targets such as infantry, ground vehicles, helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and boats.
10[23] MSP-350 MARGOT XXL  France Electronic surveillance system mounted on M-1118-2GR HMMWV[23]

Air defence systems
Quantity Weapon Image Origin Notes
Air defense - missile systems
42 launchers[22] MIM-23 Hawk  United States 7 batteries × 6 missile launchers each. Medium range.
30 systems[32][22] 9K33 Osa  Russia 30 systems = 120 missile launchers in 6 batteries
21 systems[32][22] Tor Missile System  Russia 21 systems = 84 missile launchers - Hellenic Army (Additional 4 systems with 16 missile launchers under HAF)
54 complexes[32] ASRAD-HELLAS  Germany
 Greece		 With 432 FIM-92 Stinger Block 1 missiles. VSHORADS.
~600[32] FIM-92 Stinger[22]  United States
 Greece		 MANPADS.
Air defense - gun systems
16 Artemis 30  Greece 2× 30×173 mm.
~300[22] Mk20 RH-202  Germany 2× 20×139 mm.
~500[22] ZU-23-2  Soviet Union 2× 23×152 mm (B).

Aircraft
Aircraft Image Origin Type Variant Quantity[61] Notes
Army air force
Boeing AH-64 Apache  United StatesAttack helicopterAH-64A
AH-64D		19
9		Israel has reportedly agreed to upgrade Greek AH-64As.[62]
Bell OH-58 Kiowa  United States Armed reconnaissance helicopter OH-58D 70[63] Seventy ex-US Army helicopters. Most of them (36) will be used in order to meet operational requirements and the rest will be used for training purposes (24) and spares (10). Currently being fitted with a Greek active protection system .[64][65][66]
NHI NH90  Europe Transport helicopter NH-90 TTH 20[32] For Special Forces usage.

Together with the CH47s they will eventually partially replace older helicopters like the Bell UH-1 Iroquois.

Boeing CH-47 Chinook  United States Transport helicopter CH-47C
CH-47D		 19
6[22]
Bell UH-1 Iroquois  United States Utility helicopter UH-1 Iroquois 102[22][45] Ex US Army. To be partially phased out in favor of more modern helicopters entering service.
Cessna 185  United States Utility aircraft U-17A 15[22]
C-12 Huron  United States VIP/Photo recon aircraft C-12R 3[22]
SAGEM Sperwer  France Reconnaissance UAV also used for artillery guidance B 16[32]
ATLAS 204  Greece Surveillance & control 204 32

Future procurements/projects
Quantity Weapon Image Origin Notes
Future Weapons
TBD Hoplite (Armoured Personnel Carrier)  Greece Presented by EODH as new armored vehicle to be produced in 2021[67]
TBD AOR M21 Assault Rifle  Greece Presented by AOR to be the new main service rifle of the Hellenic army and replace the G3.[68]
  • Majority of these plans are under review to be accepted or denied by the Hellenic defense ministry and Hellenic national staff.

Historical equipment

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