In a wide-ranging interview, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsosakis said the current fleet of 24 Rafales is ‘sufficient,’ reversing earlier plans to acquire up to 12 more newly built Rafales upgraded to the latest F4 standard.
Greece will not buy additional Dassault Rafale fighters and will operate only 24 aircraft as the current numbers are considered sufficient, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsosakis revealed in an interview to Defence Review. He also suggested that a reason could be Athens rather going for an additional 20 F-35 Lightning IIs,apart from the 20 it announced in july 2024 in a $3.5 billion deal.
The development is a near reversal of the plans reported since May 2024 to add 10 to 12 more Rafales of the F4 standard to the fleet of 24 initially ordered. These 24 aircraft, which are all Rafales F3R, include second-hand sales from the Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (French Air and Space Force) and newly built aircraft. The fleet comprises 18 single seater Rafale EG and six two-seater Rafale DG.
Among these aircraft there is also a batch ordered in Mar. 2022, which is scheduled to be delivered to the HAF (Hellenic Air Force) between Sep. 2024 to Jan. 2025. The plan to buy around a dozen more aircraft was to maintain force levels while retiring its older F-4 Phantom IIs,Mirage 2000-5 Mk.2, and some F-16s. The plans were also driven by the possible sale of the older Mirages to the IAF (Indian air Force), which was also looking at Qatari Mirages, as per Greek and Indian reports.
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‘No more Rafales needed’
This program now appears to have been cancelled, as Mitsotakis revealed in the wide-ranging interview to Defence Review during a visit to Tanagra air Base near Athens.The base is home to the 332 squadron (“Hawk”),part of the 114 Combat Wing,where all the HAF’s Rafales are assigned.
Mitsotakis said there is currently no intention to exercise the contract clause with the French to acquire six more Rafales. “We have 24, we believe that these are absolutely sufficient, in combination of course with the decision we have taken to acquire 20 F-35 aircraft in the first phase,” he said.
Mitsotakis,who himself served in the HAF 30 years ago,described the F-35s as “fully stealth,fifth generation aircraft,practically invisible to any radar.” He also added “they are aircraft that work and cooperate very well with the F-16s.”
Athens had agreed to buy at least 20 F-35s, worth $3.5 billion, in Jul. 2024, with an option for 20 more for a total fleet of 40, with deliveries expected to begin by 2028. This makes Greece the 19th country globally to join the F-35 program and the 12th European nation to use the F-35. The mention of the “first phase” implies future plans for the additional 20, to have a fleet of 40 F-35s.
This also comes amid a see-sawing military balance in the eastern Mediterranean as turkey lobbies to be readmitted into the F-35 program, buy new F-16 Block 70 jets, upgrade its existing F-16 fleet domestically, develop its homegrown fifth generation KAAN fighter and build a diverse fleet of UCAVs and UAVs.
Hellenic Air Force current composition
After the Rafales, the most advanced fighter in the HAF inventory woudl be the 84 F-16V Vipers (how the upgraded Block 70/72 aircraft are known compared
Greece is bolstering its air defenses with a significant modernization program,focusing on upgrading its fleet of F-16 fighter jets and enhancing the availability of its transport aircraft. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis outlined these plans during a recent speech, highlighting the country’s commitment to strengthening its military capabilities in the face of evolving security challenges.
The centerpiece of this modernization effort is the ongoing upgrade of 83 F-16 fighter jets to the advanced Viper configuration (Block 72). These upgraded aircraft,designated as F-16Vs,will feature enhanced avionics,radar systems,and weapons capabilities,considerably boosting Greece’s air power. The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) received the first upgraded F-16V in September 2022, with the entire fleet expected to be modernized by 2027.
“A Hellenic AF F-16 in its distinctive “Aegean Ghost” colour scheme cutting through the air during Exercise Ramstein Flag ’24. The HAF received the first of its 83 upgraded F-16Vs at Tanagra AFB in September 2022. #Greece is planning to complete the upgrades by 2027.”
“A Hellenic AF F-16 in its distinctive “Aegean Ghost” colour scheme cutting through the air during Exercise Ramstein Flag ’24. The HAF received the first of its 83 upgraded F-16Vs at Tanagra AFB in September 2022. #Greece is planning to complete the upgrades by 2027.”
— Air Power (@RealAirPower1)
Mitsotakis also addressed efforts to improve the availability of Greece’s older C-130B/H Hercules and C-27 Spartan transport aircraft, which have faced maintenance challenges. These upgrades are crucial for ensuring the Hellenic Air Force can effectively fulfill its transport and logistical missions.
The Prime Minister placed these equipment modernization plans within the context of broader shifts in Greece’s defense policies. These include increasing the country’s defense spending to 2.5% of its GDP, aligning with NATO’s call for increased defense contributions from member states, and responding to the security implications of the war in Ukraine.
Mitsotakis revealed that older Greek F-16s (Block 30) and Patriot air defense systems were considered as potential military aid to Ukraine. However, he stated that he “resisted any pressure” to send the Patriot systems, emphasizing their critical role in protecting Greek airspace.
Greek Rafales Employment
This strategic realignment towards NATO has also been reflected in the Hellenic Air Force’s participation in major international exercises. One notable example is the recent “Ramstein Flag 2024” drill, which showcased Greece’s commitment to interoperability and cooperation with its NATO allies.
“Completion of the “Ramstein Flag 2024”
The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) successfully completed its participation in the large-scale multinational air exercise “Ramstein Flag 2024” which took place at Ramstein Air Base in Germany from 16 to 27 September 2024.
Greece has been making waves in the international military arena, showcasing its air power capabilities through participation in several multinational exercises. In October 2024, the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) took part in the NATO Ramstein Flag exercise, a large-scale aerial training event held over Greece.
The exercise saw a diverse range of aircraft from 13 nations, including Greece, Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. “NATO exercise Ramstein Flag took off for a combined mission flying across Greece 🇬🇷 to demonstrate multinational Air Power capability,” NATO Air Command tweeted. “During the flight, 12 fighter jets from the Nations 🇬🇷🇫🇷🇭🇺🇮🇹🇵🇱🇵🇹🇪🇸🇸🇪🇺🇸 flew in formation #StrongTogether.”
The Ramstein Flag exercise provided a valuable prospect for the participating nations to enhance interoperability and hone their combat skills. The HAF deployed a variety of aircraft,including Rafale,F-16,Mirage 2000-5,and F-4E Phantom II fighter jets.
However, while actively participating in Ramstein Flag, Greece also declined a request from the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to join NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission. Citing existing commitments in the Balkans as the reason, Greek officials opted out of the BAP deployment.
In a separate display of its aerial prowess, the HAF participated in the Indian Air Force’s multinational Tarang Shakti drills, which ran until mid-September 2024.This marked a historic moment as Greek F-16s landed on Indian soil for the first time on August 29, 2024. The F-16s from the 336 Squadron, accompanied by C-130 transport aircraft carrying equipment and personnel, touched down at AFS sulur (Air Force Station Sulur) in Tamil Nadu.
“In a Top Gun training programme, Allies 🇪🇸🇮🇹🇫🇷🇩🇪🇬🇷🇬🇧 enhance operational skills in red team vs blue team dogfighting,” NATO Air Command tweeted on November 27, 2024.”With this high intensity live flying training, #NATO enhances 4th & 5th gen capability integration & showcases readiness to address dynamic security challenges.”
These recent exercises highlight Greece’s commitment to international cooperation and its dedication to maintaining a strong and capable air force. By participating in multinational training events, Greece strengthens its partnerships with allied nations and demonstrates its readiness to contribute to global security.
The HAF’s active involvement in these exercises underscores its growing role as a key player in the international security landscape.
