Greece announced its intention to acquire 18 Rafales to equip its Air Force.
In an annual state of the economy speech, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece would obtain 18 new French-made Rafale fighter planes to replace its aging Mirage 2000 fighters.
However 12 aircraft would be second hand aircraft from the French Air Force. The French government initially proposed the construction of 8 aircraft to support the Dassault Aviation production line. But the Greek authorities would rather lean in favor of 6 new Rafales in order to reduce the cost of the program.
The used planes are extremely recent since all of them with the standard F3-O4T. A standard deployed in the Air Force between the end of 2012 and 2018.
“This announcement illustrates the strength of the partnership that has linked the Greek Air Force (hellenic air force) and Dassault Aviation for more than 45 years, and demonstrates the enduring strategic relationship between Greece and France,” the release said.
The new procurements also include the purchase of four navy helicopters and four frigates, the country’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated in an annual state of the economy speech.