Photos from the personal collection of Konstantinos Panitsidis

 Technical specifications      Photos      Video

Introduction in Hellenic Air Force in 1974
338^th All Weather Squadron “Ares (Mars)” and 339^th “Ajax”
Location: 117^th CW — Andravida Air Base
Yer of estabilishment: 1952г.
Subordination: 117^th Combat Wing
Aircraft serving: F-4E Phantom Peace Icarus 2000
Mission: With a major role in intercepting and as a secondary role in persecution-bombardment.
The service life of all F-4E Peace Icarus 2000 aircraft has been extended until 2027.

In the mid '90 a contract was signed between the HAF and Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA), now EADS, which involved the upgrading of 39 aircraft (the number dropped to 36 due to the loss of three aircraft). According to the modernization program, 29 will be upgraded to the level of Peace Icarus I and 10 to the level of Peace Icarus II.
Until 2002, 16 aircraft were modified to the level of Peace Icarus 2000 and another 6 units were to by the Hellenic Aircraft Building Plant.

Program for the modernization includes

-AN/APG-65GY multi-mode radar
-GEC Avionics CPU-143/A central air data computer
-Hazeltine AN/APX-113(V) IFF system
-Israeli-made multifunctional configuration computer MMRC (Elbit)
-A combination of INS system with antennas GPS (LINS/GPS) and Honeywell H-764G navigation system
-Radio altitude AN/APN-232
-Magnavox AN/ARC-164 type Have Quick II communication system
-El-Op Heads Up Display (HUD)
-Data Transfer Unit (DTU)
-Collins AN/APN-153Y TACAN navaids
-Video recorder V-80AB-F company Elbit
-Multi-Function-Color-Display (MFCD company Elbit)
-Electronic module MIL-STD-1553B
-RS-422 transmit data systems
-Hands On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) system.

The nomenclature weapons has naturally increased and the aircraft has the ability to use missiles and bombs such as AIM-120 AMRAAM, Sidewinder (all modifications), IRIS-T, AGM-65A/B, AGM-65G missiles, bombs of the LGM type (with a laser guidance system) using the Rafael Litening II targeting pod, aerial bombs CBU-8/B Hobs, CBU-58A/B, CBU-71A, CBU-87/B, Mk 20 cluster bombs by Rockeye II and conventional free-fall aerial bombs.

AIM-120 AMRAAM / Litening II targeting pod

The aircraft is powered by two General Electric J79-GE-17 engines. The engines are light-weight (approximately 1.814 kg (4000 pounds) each), high thrust, axial-flow turbojets equipped with afterburner for thrust augmentation. Under sea level, static test conditions, the engine is rated at 5.384 kgf (11.870 pounds) thrust at Mil power, while at Max power it is rated at 8.119 kgf (17.900 pounds) thrust. The J79 features variable stators (first six stages), a 17 stage compressor, a combustion chamber with 10 annular combustion liners, a three-stage turbine, a variable area exhaust nozzle, and modulated reheat thrust augmentation (afterburning). A turbine type starter, operated by air from an external source or by the expanding gases of a solid propellant cartridge is used to crank the engines for starting.
Either the aircraft battery or external electrical power source is used to provide electrical power during starting. Engine bleed air, taken from the 17^th stage of the compressor, is ducted to the boundary layer control system (aircraft without slats), the cockpit air conditioning and pressurization system, and the equipment air conditioning system. From these systems, it is further ducted to supply air to the air data computer, the engine anti-icing system, the fuel tank pressurization system, the pneumatic system air compressor, and the windshield rain removal system.

To reduce soot emissions (black smoke), the J79-GE-17A engine (i.e. combustion chamber and other power-plant units) was modified, and the engine received a new J79-GE-17C name instead of the letter "A". 

PATCHES

337 SQ
338 Fighter bomber squadron "ARES"
339 SQ "AIAS"

THREE-VIEW DRAWING

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PHOTOS F-4E Peace Icarus 2000