They had threatened Turkey! They acquired 24 new fighter jets.

Greece, which has entered an arms race with Turkey, has officially received its new fighter jets. The delivery of the 24 Rafale fighter jets ordered by Greece from France has been completed.

DELIVERY OF RAFALE AIRCRAFT HAS TAKEN PLACE

According to a report by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the aircraft, which is a Rafale variant operated by a single pilot, was delivered to the 332nd Squadron stationed at Tanagra Air Base in Greece after arriving from Mérignac airport in Bordeaux, France. Thus, Greece's order for Rafale fighter jets, which was increased from 18 to 24 with a second supplementary contract, has been completed.

GREECE'S DEFENSE COOPERATION WITH FRANCE IS STRENGTHENING

Greece had ordered the newly produced Rafale fighter jets along with 3 FDI frigates from France in March 2022. With this delivery, Greece has received the Rafale fighter jets it ordered within 4 years. It was reported that the order, which includes the aircraft as well as the necessary infrastructure, cost Greece approximately 3.6 billion Euros.

DETAILS OF THE PURCHASES IN THE FIRST CONTRACT

The first batch of Rafale F3R standard fighter jets was signed between Greece and France in January 2021. The order, which includes munitions, support, pilot and technician training, and the necessary infrastructure at Greece's Tanagra air base, is worth approximately 2.5 billion Euros and covers 12 lightly used and 6 newly produced aircraft. Accordingly, of the 18 aircraft in the first contract, 14 are single-seat and 4 are two-seat variants. In this context, the first Rafale fighter jet was delivered to the Hellenic Air Force in July 2021. The first 6 aircraft remained in France for the training of Greek pilots.

ADDITIONAL ORDERS FROM GREECE

According to Kathimerini, two months later, Athens placed an order for 6 more Rafale jets at a cost of 1.09 billion Euros to increase the number of Rafale fighter jets stationed in the 332nd Squadron to 24. Thus, Greece has procured a total of 24 Rafale fighter jets with an initial contract for 18 and then an additional order for 6, amounting to a total cost of 3.59 billion Euros.

THEY HAD THREATENED TURKEY

It had become a topic of discussion when Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis threatened Turkey over F-35s during a television program. The Greek minister stated, 'We could come to Ankara one night unexpectedly with F-35s.'