Theodoros Lagios, General Director of Armament and Investments of the Greek Ministry of Defense, and Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, signed today a contract for the acquisition of 18 Rafale aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force, as well as a contract for the logistical support of the fleet. Lagios also signed a supplementary contract with Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, to supply the armament package for the aircraft. Deliveries will begin in the summer of 2021 and will be span over two years.
The logistic support contract will support the Hellenic Air Force Rafale’s air activity over four and a half years, maintaining the availability of equipment and systems at the highest level. The order for 18 Rafale includes 12 Rafale aircraft that were recently inducted in service with the French Air Force and 6 new built Rafales to be produced at Dassault Aviation plants. To aircraft will meet the urgent need of the Hellenic Air Force. These aircraft will replace the Mirage 2000 that have entered service in 1985.
The weapons systems destined for the Hellenic Rafale will benefit from commonality with the weapons used on the Mirage 2000s and Mirage 2000-5s currently in service in the Hellenic Air Force. The Rafales will be armed with SCALP cruise missiles, AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles, and MICA multi-mission air-to-air missiles. Additionally, MBDA will also supply Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missiles, the Thales TALIOS targeting pod, and the Hammer guided bombs produced by Safran’s Sagem DS.
Greece is also modernizing 84 F-16s Block 52 to the new Block 70 configuration (F-16V), the main advantage of this upgrade is the improved situational awareness, derived by the integration of APG-83 AESA radar, a larger color display, and advanced DJHMCS helmet targeting system, among its main features. Greece is also interested in acquiring a squadron of 24 F-35A, beginning in 2024, following the induction of the Rafale and F-16 modernization.
