Dassault Aviation delivers final Rafale fighter jet to Greece
On 9 January, the last Dassault Rafale fighter jet ordered by Greece was delivered to Tanagra Air Base. This completes the procurement of 24 aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force’s 332nd Fighter Squadron, the only unit in Greece equipped with the Rafale F3R multirole aircraft.
Photo: Hellenic Air Force.
On 9 January, the last Dassault Rafale fighter jet ordered by Greece was delivered to Tanagra Air Base. This completes the procurement of 24 aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force’s 332nd Fighter Squadron, the only unit in Greece equipped with the Rafale F3R multirole aircraft.
The first contract, signed on 25 January 2021, provided for the delivery of 18 Rafale jets between 2022 and 2023. To expedite the process, 12 of these aircraft were transferred from the French Air Force, with the remaining six being newly manufactured. A second agreement, signed on 24 March 2022, added six more jets, all newly produced.
The first Rafale arrived in Greece in July 2021, though training operations initially took place in France. Greek pilots brought the first six aircraft to Tanagra in January 2022. The final delivery, a single-seat jet designated with tail number 457, signifies the conclusion of this acquisition program.
Greece’s Rafale fleet now comprises 18 single-seat Rafale EGs and six two-seat Rafale DGs. Previously, the 332nd Fighter Squadron operated French Mirage 2000EGM/BGM jets, which have been replaced by the more advanced Rafale.
Despite the Rafale’s positive reception among Greek pilots, the Greek government is already planning for next-generation capabilities. On 25 July 2024, Defence Minister Nikos Dendias announced a deal to acquire 20 American F-35A fighters. Delivery of the F-35A jets is expected to begin in 2028.
