Greece receives first set of Rafale jets from France

摘要

THE HELLENIC Air Force has received the first six of a planned 18 Dassault Rafale F-3R multi-role fighters following a handover flight in January this year that transported the jets from Istres in France to Tanagra Air, Greece.Taking place on January 19, the arrival ceremony was attended by the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, with Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, on hand to mark the occasion.The six Rafales were flown by the first group of HAF pilots to have completed their six months of training on the type with Dassault at its Merignac Conversion Training Centre in Bordeaux, France.The Rafales will enter service with the HAF's 332 Mira Pantos Kerou (All-Weather Squadron) 'Geraki' (Hawk), part of 114 Pteriga Makhis (Combat Wing) at Tanagra. The Squadron currently operates the Mirage 2000BG/EG, but is planning to retire the type, which has been in service for 34 years, by mid-2022. Delivery of the next HAF Rafales will begin at the end of 2022, with the intention of having all of the fleet delivered to Tanagra by summer 2023. Meanwhile, training of HAF pilots, mechanics and technicians will continue in France and Greece over the coming months.