The Hellenic Air Force has officially completed the acquisition of 24 Rafale fighter jets, with the arrival of the final aircraft at the 114th Combat Wing in Tanagra Air Base on January 9.
The last of the 24 French-made Rafales, designated with the serial number 457, touched down at the 114th Combat Wing at Tanagra Air Base following a non-stop flight from Mérignac in Bordeaux.
This jet belongs to the second supplementary contract, which saw Greece increase its Rafale order from an initial 18 to 24. The purchase of the final six jets was part of a larger deal signed in March 2022, which also included three FDI frigates.
The Rafale jets, which are equipped with cutting-edge technology and superior combat capabilities, now serve with the Greek Air Force’s 332nd Squadron.
The squadron, which became operational in January 2022 after extensive training in France, is now fully equipped and ready for advanced combat operations. With the addition of these aircraft, Greece has firmly positioned itself as one of the most advanced air forces in the region.
The first Rafale contract, which was signed in January 2021, included 12 used and 6 new aircraft, totaling an expenditure of approximately US$2.7 billion, covering the cost of the jets, weapons, training, and infrastructure at Tanagra.
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In March 2022, Athens expanded its order with an additional six Rafale jets, aiming to bring the total fighter strength to 24 aircraft.
In addition to the Rafale acquisition, Greece has now set its sights on securing the next generation of fighter jets with the procurement of 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
In July 2024, Greece took a major step by finalizing its intention to purchase the F-35s under a Foreign Military Sale agreement, which also included the option for an additional 20 planes.
The US State Department approved the sale of up to 40 F-35 fighter jets to Greece in January 2024 in a deal valued at a staggering US$8.6 billion.
Overall, the French Rafales are part of a broader strategy to improve Greece’s air defense capabilities as tensions continue to rise in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Greece and Turkey have been at loggerheads.
Greece, Turkey Rivalry
The completion of Greece’s Rafale fighter jet acquisition has been hailed by the Greek media as a watershed moment, asserting that Athens now holds clear air superiority over Ankara.
This milestone is attributed not only to the incorporation of the 4.5th generation Rafale jets—technology Turkey has yet to acquire—but also to the deployment of Meteor medium-range missiles.
Greek defense analysts argue that the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets substantially strengthens Greece’s strategic deterrence. The Rafale’s cutting-edge technology, including advanced radar systems and powerful weaponry, positions Greece at a distinct advantage.
However, some experts caution that the operational and maintenance costs of these advanced jets could strain Greece’s defense budget.
The quest for air superiority has long been central to the geopolitical rivalry between Greece and Turkey over the Aegean Sea, a frequent site of aerial confrontations.
In 2022 alone, the Turkish Air Force reportedly violated Greek airspace 11,256 times, with 282 of those incursions involving aircraft armed with air-to-air missiles. These near-daily confrontations have honed the skills of Greek pilots, who are widely regarded as some of NATO’s most capable aviators.
By comparison, Turkey claims Greece violated its airspace and territorial waters 1,123 times in the first eight months of the same year, according to the Turkish Ministry of National Defense.
Turkey has previously criticized Greece’s Rafale procurement, arguing that it undermines regional peace and stability.
Ankara has openly acknowledged the threat posed by the Rafales. In 2023, retired Turkish Air Force Commander General Abidin Ünal warned that if Turkey fails to modernize its fleet—especially its aging F-16s—by 2025, Greece will have a decisive edge in air superiority.
That said, Ankara’s efforts to counter Greece’s advances have seen some progress. In 2024, the US approved Turkey’s purchase of 40 new Block-70 F-16 fighter jets, and Turkey is also exploring the acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoons.
However, Turkey’s foreign policy missteps—particularly its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system—have cost it access to the fifth-generation F-35 program, a move that has hindered its military modernization. In contrast, Greece has been welcomed into the F-35 program.
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