Legacy Combat Aircraft Conversion into Unmanned Strike Platforms: A Strategic Assessment of the Greek A-7 Corsair II and F-4 Phantom II Fleets

This study examines the feasibility of converting legacy combat aircraft into unmanned strike platforms, focusing on the Greek A-7 Corsair II and F-4 Phantom II fleets. Drawing upon international precedents including the American QF-4 and QF-16 programs, the research evaluates technical feasibility, operational concepts, economic considerations, strategic implications, and potential applications in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. The study argues that while significant engineering and financial challenges remain, legacy aircraft conversion may offer a cost-effective method for generating operational mass, supporting deterrence, and enhancing force multiplication in future military operations.