TSAMTO, July 8. Photos taken at the Dassault Aviation company's enterprise of the first multifunctional Rafale fighter, which is to be delivered to the Greek Air Force Command by the end of July, appeared on social networks.
The plane caught in the photo is made in a two-seat version of the "B". Presumably, the transfer ceremony will take place on July 21 in France.
As reported by TSAMTO, in January 2021, Greece and France signed a contract for the supply of 18 multifunctional Rafale fighters from Dassault Aviation to the Greek Air Force, the cost of which was about 1.92 billion rubles. euro ($2.35 billion). Another 400 million euros are intended for the purchase of Meteor air-to-air missiles and the modernization of missiles in service with the Greek Air Force, including the Mika air-to-air missile system, the Scalp missile system and the Exocet anti-ship missiles, for use from the Rafale.
To reduce costs, the Greek Air Force ordered 6 new fighters and 12 aircraft from the French Air Force (10 single-seat and two double-seat). It is planned that the first 6 aircraft from the French Air Force will be transferred one per month, starting from July 2021 (6 months after the signing of the contract), 6 new aircraft-by the 20th month after the conclusion of the contract, the remaining 6 aircraft from the French Air Force – by the 26th month (at the beginning of 2023).
In April, information appeared about the intention of the Greek Defense Ministry to purchase an additional batch of Rafale and increase the number of squadrons formed as part of the Greek Air Force to 24 units. Based on the purchase price of the first batch of aircraft, it is assumed that the purchase of 6 additional fighters will cost 800 million euros.
The first four pilots of the Greek Air Force are being trained at the Mont-de-Marsan base in France. Subsequently, they will become the first Greek instructors.
