An F-16 Fighting Falcon in the Hellenic (Greek) Air Force participates in an airshow in Payerne, Switzerland, in September 2014. Greece’s air force is close to Turkey’s in strength, and the two nations see each other as their primary competitor. (Shutterstock/Ryan Fletcher)

Could Greece’s Air Force Stand Up to Turkey’s in a War? Here’s What to Know

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Greece’s air force is marginally “better” than Turkey’s—but it is also smaller, with fewer avenues to replace losses in a protracted conflict.

Turkey and Greece possess two of NATO’s most capable air forces—mostly because of each other. Although the two countries are nominally allies within the US-led alliance umbrella, a decades-long rivalry between them has produced a highly specialized regional arms race. While a major war remains unlikely, comparing the two nations’ airfleets provides insight into one of Europe’s most closely matched military competitions, a glimpse of what war above the Aegean might look like.

Greece’s and Turkey’s Airpower by the Numbers

Turkey has certain obvious advantages over Greece. Its population is roughly 85 million, eight times larger than Greece’s 10 million. It boasts a far larger economy, with a GDP of roughly $1.6 trillion compared to Greece’s $300 billion. And its advantages in population and wealth have allowed it to build a far larger........

© The National Interest