Less than six months after signing the contract with Greece, Dassault Aviation * delivered, from its Istres flight test center (Bouches-du-Rhône), the first of the 18 Rafale ordered by Athens, to Hellenic Air Force (HAF).
It is the first recent second-hand aircraft of the 12 ordered, the other 6 being new aircraft.
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The following 17 Rafale must be delivered by September 2023. These planes will be deployed at the Tanagra air base in Greece.
Previously, the French Air Force and Dassault Aviation will train HAF pilots and mechanics in France.
A first group of pilots, already trained for several months, will join the Dassault conversion training center in Mérignac in order to complete their training.
"
An alternative to the all-American is possible
"
By modernizing its air force, Greece intends to ensure its "
territorial integrity"
, in a context of "
potential instability
", coming in particular from Turkey, in the eastern Mediterranean, explained, Wednesday, July 21, Nikolaos Panayotopoulos, the minister. of the defense.
Greece is the first European country, in addition a member of the Atlantic Alliance (NATO), to have chosen the French combat aircraft.
This choice shows "
that an alternative to the all-American is possible,
" said Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation.
This order also illustrates "
the quality of strategic relations between France and Greece as well as the exceptional quality of Dassault's cooperation with the Hellenic Air Force
", through more than 45 years of "
uninterrupted and solid
partnership.
".
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“
After the Mirage F1 in 1974, the Mirage 2000 in 1985 and the Mirage 2000-5 in 2000, the Rafale proudly wears the colors of the Greek Air Force.
The Rafale is a strategic game changer for the HAF and will play an active role in ensuring the leadership of Greece as a major regional power.
I would like to reaffirm our total commitment to the success of the Rafale in Greece,
”insisted Éric Trappier.
*
The Dassault group owns the Figaro
.