TSAMTO, February 16. The Greek parliament voted for the bill "On strengthening the country's defense capability", which approves the acquisition from France of six Rafale fighters, three Belharra-class frigates, as well as torpedoes for submarines.
This, as RIA Novosti reports, was reported by the Athens news agency AMNA.
The overwhelming majority of deputies supported the bill. In addition to the ruling New Democracy, the Movement for Change (KINAL) and the Greek Solution party voted for the concept of the bill. The largest opposition party Syriza-Progressive Alliance abstained. The Communist Party of Greece and the MERA25 party voted against. The discussion of the bill lasted 13 hours, the agency notes.
As Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated during the debate, Greece will receive fighter jets by the end of 2024, and the first frigate in 2025.
Before that, Greece signed an agreement on the purchase of 18 Rafale fighters, the first six aircraft have already arrived in Greece.
According to the bill, the cost of purchasing three frigates will amount to 3,237 billion. euro, RIA Novosti reports.
