The first batch of six Rafale aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force has been ferried to their new home, on Jan. 19, 2022.
The aircraft were escorted by Greek Mirage 2000s over Athens, before reaching their new home to be assigned to the 332nd All Weather Squadron "Hawk". The unit currently flies the Mirage 2000-BGM/EGM3, but they should be retired in the next months and replaced by the Rafale.
The aircraft, four single-seat EG models and two double-seat BG models, were greeted by a water salute and a ceremony attended by the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accompanied by the Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos and other Greek authorities, as well as Dassault’s CEO Éric Trappier.
The delivery to Tanagra happened just a year after the signing of the contract, with another batch of aircraft arriving by the end of 2022 and the remaining ones in 2023.
