Faced with Turkey, Greece buys 18 Rafale from France
The sale of 18 Rafale aircraft to Greece is the first contract in this field for France with a European country.
AP
Text by: Franck Alexandre
2 min
Florence Parly is in Athens this Monday morning January 25 to sign the purchase contract for 18 Rafale planes with her Greek counterpart.
A contract of 2.5 billion euros, which, welcomes the Minister of the Armed Forces, is excellent news for the French industry, but also for Europe of defense.
Publicity
Read more
Never has France sold its Rafale planes so quickly.
Five months have passed between the announcement of this acquisition last September and the signing of the contract on Monday.
A tight schedule, which can be explained by the
tense context in the eastern Mediterranean
.
Throughout the year 2020, Turkey has increased its gestures of mistrust, in particular in the maritime areas claimed by Greece.
Faced with these
aggressive postures
, Athens is therefore updating its strategic partnerships and modernizing its equipment.
To maintain supremacy in the air, the Greek government therefore chose the Rafale fighter from Dassault.
Eighteen copies, including six new devices and twelve used, which will be taken from the French forces.
First sale to a European country
Deliveries will take place within six months and all aircraft will be available within two years.
Very good news for the French industry - the Rafale sector representing 7,000 direct jobs.
And excellent news for defense Europe, rejoices the Ministry of the Armed Forces, which does not fail to stress that this is the first time that the Rafale has been sold to a European country.
►
See also: Turkey and Greece resume their talks on their differences in the Mediterranean
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
France
Greece
Defense
On the same subject
Tensions in the Mediterranean: Macron and Erdogan explain themselves, Greeks and Turks ready to negotiate
Turkey, Greece resume talks over Mediterranean disputes
Turkey returns controversial ship to eastern Mediterranean