Greece signs for Rafale combat aircraft

Greece and France have finalised a deal for 18 Dassault Rafale combat aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force (HAF), valued at an estimated EUR1.92 billion (USD2.35 billion).

Theodoros Lagios, Director General of Armament and Investments of the Greek Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Éric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, signed the contract in Athens on 25 January, cementing the deal that was approved by the Greek parliament in December 2020. A further contract for logistical support was also signed.

“Greece is a leading European partner, a major member of NATO and a special partner of France, with which Dassault Aviation has stood … by [through earlier combat aircraft sales] for more than 45 years,” Trappier was quoted as saying.

The 18 Rafales will comprise 12 surplus French Air and Space Force aircraft (10 single seaters and two twin seaters) and six new-build aircraft to be built in France. To meet the urgent need of the Greek authorities, the deliveries of aircraft will begin in the summer of 2021 and will be spread over two years. The additional logistic support contract will support the HAF’s Rafale air activity over four-and-a-half years.

As previously reported by Janes, another EUR400 million will be used to purchase MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs) and to upgrade missiles already in the HAF inventory, namely Mica air-to-air missiles, Scalp cruise missiles, and Exocet anti-ship missiles, for carriage by the Rafales.