Greek Rafales to be mission-ready in January
The first Rafale aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force, pictured during a July 2021 acceptance ceremony. (Photo: Hellenic Air Force)
The first six Rafale multirole fighters on order from Dassault for the Hellenic Air Force will be ready for operations after delivery in January 2021, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported on 12 December.
The 114th Combat Wing will be the first HAF unit to operate the new-build Rafales, with its pilots having already completed training in France.
A further 12 ex-French Air and Space Force Rafales will be delivered over the next two years, and Kathimerini noted that preparations are almost completed to buy six more.
The deal for the first 18 Rafales, signed in January 2021, is worth €2.49 billion ($3.02 billion) and includes missiles from MBDA and Safran (AASM Hammer).
More from Air Warfare
-
Northrop Grumman awarded $705 million contract for USAF’s new strike missile capability
The USAF has selected Northrop Grumman to develop and test the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW), a new air-to-ground weapon system, for fifth-generation aircraft and beyond.
-
CH-47 Chinook: why the timeless helicopter design is still a heavy-lift contender on the modern battlefield
From its emergence as a ground-breaking design in the 1950s to its widespread deployment in diverse operations worldwide, the Chinook continues to leave an indelible mark on the aviation landscape. Shephard sums up the latest developments and tells you everything you need to know about the workhorse of many armies and air forces in the 2020s.
-
Indigenous tethered UAVs to join Indian Army
An Indian company will supply the Indian military with its first ever tethered UAVs.
-
UK set to host headquarters for GCAP sixth-generation fighter project, reports suggest
As discussions about the Global Combat Air Programme's headquarters location continue, Japan may lead the UK-based HQ to maintain programme balance.
-
Honeywell urges Pratt & Whitney to share F-35 engine data or risk costly maintenance and reduced reliability
'We're getting into a zone where [the engine and the cooling] are going to be out of phase with each other... which means you're going to have to take the [F-35] jet down twice for overhaul and replacement of systems,' Honeywell official tells Shephard.
-
Australia reverses decision on Schiebel Camcopters for naval UAVs
It turns out that Australia has made absolutely no progress in obtaining shipborne UAVs in the past 18 months or so.