The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is expected to receive over the coming day the last in an order of 24 French-made Rafale warplanes, with the “Vimatodotis” column in “To Vima” saying the 23rd fighter recently landed at an airbase north of Athens.
If accurate, that means only one Rafale remains to be received by Greece’s air force. The question now before the Mitsotakis government and the country’s armed forces’ leadership is to find more “fiscal space” to acquire another half dozen similar 4.5-generation warplanes, as per a contract option signed with manufacturer Dassault and the French state.
At the same time, according to the specific media column, a modernization of HAF’s sizable fleet of F-16s into the “Viper” class continues unabated.
The significant upgrade in the HAF’s qualitative and quantitative capability will be further boosted with the deployment of the first US-made F-35s into Greek service.
VIMAtodotis estimates that the first F-35 bearing the HAF’s roundel is set for delivery in 2028.
All of the above come in the wake of a deal finally allowing Turkey the ability to acquire new Western fighter planes, with Berlin relenting and allowing Ankara to purchase the Eurofighter after a F-35 fizzled out when Washington blocked the sale due to Turkey’s purchase of the Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft system.
Back in Athens, one scenario still under scrutiny is to sell-off the remaining Mirage 2000-5s in the HAF arsenal, along with surplus F-16s (Block 30), a more-or-less pragmatic prospect previously mentioned by DM Nikos Dendias himself.
As VIMAtodotis writes, however, the prospect isn’t an easy task. Similarly, two state VIP jets – a Gulfstream and an Embraer – are also on the “selling block” but without buyer interest to date.
