The Hellenic Air Force has received a new Rafale fighter jet, completing its acquisition of 24 French-made aircraft (18 single-seaters and 6 two-seaters).
The single-seat jet, bearing serial number 457, landed at the Tanagra air base on Thursday after a non-stop flight from Mérignac, Bordeaux, and was handed over to the 332nd Squadron.
This particular Rafale is part of the second – supplementary – contract, which increased the number of Rafale jets in the Air Force from 18 to 24.
The newly built Rafales were ordered from France in March 2022, along with three FDI frigates.
In just four years, Greece has acquired a fully equipped squadron of Rafale fighter jets, significantly shifting the balance of power in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece has achieved clear air superiority over Turkey, not only by incorporating a 4.5-generation fighter jet, a technology Turkey does not possess, but also with the addition of Meteor medium-range missiles.
The contract for the first batch of Rafale F3R jets was signed in January 2021. It included 12 slightly used and six new aircraft, which, together with their weapons, initial support, pilot and technician training, and the necessary infrastructure at Tanagra, cost approximately €2.5 billion. Of the 18 jets, 14 are single-seaters, and four are two-seaters.
The first Rafale was delivered to Greece in July 2021. The first six jets remained in France for pilot training and were welcomed to Tanagra in January 2022.
Two months later, Athens placed an additional order for six new Rafales at a cost of €1.09 billion, increasing the strength of the 332nd Squadron to 24 units.
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