Greece has officially expanded the fleet of fighter aircraft with French aircraft. Yesterday, January 20, the press service of Dassault Aviation announced that six Rafale fighters arrived at Tanagra Air Base.
The aircraft entered service with the 332nd Squadron of the Greek Air Force. From France to Greece, the fighters were piloted by Greek pilots, the machines made a demonstration flight over Athens.
Rafale fighters of the Greek Air Force
Image source: dassault-aviation.com
France is transferring to Greece twelve fighters of the latest version of the F3-R from its Air Force, as well as twelve new-built vehicles. The first fighters were officially handed over to Greece in July last year, but were in France, where pilots and technicians of the Greek Air Force were trained.
The Rafale is a fourth-generation multi-purpose fighter developed by Dassault Aviation in the 80s. The first flight of the fighter took place in 1986, in 2004 it entered service with the Navy, and two years later — the French Air Force. In 2017, the French Defense Ministry officially approved the development program of the Rafale fighter modification F4.