TSAMTO, December 21. The Greek government announced on December 17 that it will pay $ 2.32 billion. EUR ($2.8 billion) for the purchase of French Rafale fighter jets and missiles to equip them amid rising tensions with neighboring Turkey.
According to the Associated Press, with reference to the official representative of the Greek government Stelios Petsas, the delivery of 18 fighters will begin in mid-2021 and will be completed within two years.
The Greek leadership as a whole allocated 11.5 billion rubles. Euro ($14.1 billion)) to modernize its armed forces within five years against the backdrop of deteriorating relations with Turkey, a NATO ally.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced his intention to conclude agreements on the sale of fighter jets with the French government and Dassault Aviation in the near future in Parliament on December 15 before voting on the budget for 2021. Lawmakers approved the budget with a vote ratio of 158:148. defense Spending in 2021 increased by more than a third-to 5.4 billion rubles. the Euro, despite the deep recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As reported by TSAMTO, on September 12, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced his intention to purchase 18 Rafale fighters in France. To reduce costs, the Greek air force intends to receive 6 new fighters and 12 aircraft from the French air force. It is assumed that the aircraft will be armed with guided missiles " meteor "class" air-to-air", cruise missiles Scalp and anti-ship "Exocet".
The estimated cost of the aircraft is 1.92 billion. Euro, ammunition – about 400 million euros. The first four pilots will travel to France for training in early 2021. It is expected that by may 2021 at the latest, the first operational Rafale will land at the Tanagra base. The first six aircraft from the French air force will be delivered by mid – 2021, and the new ones by mid-2023.
Greece has previously purchased combat aircraft from France. So, 40 "Mirage F1" were purchased from Dassault Aviation in 1974, 40 " Mirage-2000 "-in 1985 and 15" Mirage-2000-5 " in 2000. The latest contract also included the upgrade of 10 Mirage-2000 to the Mirage-2000-5 standard with the participation of Greek industry.
As planned, contracts will also be signed with various French companies for the maintenance of Mirage-2000 fighters, the modernization OF sperver UAVs IN Greece, etc.
French armed forces Minister Florence PARLY was due to arrive in Athens to sign a contract for Rafale fighter jets on December 19, although Greek media reported that the trip could be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the official announcement of the signing of the contract is not available.
