Can Rafale Fighter Planes turn the balance in favor of Greece in the Aegean?
The Greek Air Force received the first Dassault (France) Rafale fighter jet, with a ceremony held on July 21, 2021 at the Dassault Flight Test Center at Istres Air Base near Marseille, southeastern France. This isn't the first jet fighter the Greeks have bought from the French. "Previously, the relationship between the two countries in the field of aviation dates back to the founding years of aviation in Greece. Following the first aviation training in France, the first aircraft that entered the inventory were French-made. In pursuit of the so-called "Megali Idea" dream of Greece, "Asia Minor", which Greece dared in 1919. It received the close support of France in the "Operation. Afterwards, Mirage 2000-5 aircraft joined the Greek Air Force's inventory in 2000. Therefore, Greece's experience in using French aviation technology-made warplanes is quite high.
As it is known, in January 2021, an order was placed by Greece for Dassault Rafale fighter jets. The contract includes the delivery of 18 jets, of which 12 are used (12 out of 102 Rafale B fighter jets in the current inventory of the French Air Force), 6 of which will be produced for Greece. According to the contract, all aircraft must be delivered by 2023. With 6 Rafale Bs to be transferred from the French Air Force inventory to the inventory of Greece, the type combat readiness training will be given to 4 instructor pilots and 50 technicians at the Dassault Type Combat Readiness Training Center (CTC) in Mérignac, France. 4 pilots had already started their training at the same center in April this year. By the end of this year, a total of 8 Greek pilots are expected to complete their combat readiness training. It is known that, following the completion of the trainings, the first aircraft will arrive in Greece at the beginning of 2022, and the aircraft will be deployed at the 114th Air Base/332nd Fleet Command in Tanagra, north of Athens, which hosts Mirage aircraft. In the long run, it seems likely that all Mirage aircraft at Tanagra and Iskiri airbases will be modernized with Rafale fighter jets.
It can be said that it is the most advanced model of the Mirage series of Rafale aircraft, which took the stage with its first test flight on July 4, 1986. Rafale; It is an aircraft that emerged as a result of the lobbying activities of the French Aviation Industry, which could not get enough of a share from the Eurofighter consortium, in France to produce its own aircraft. New versions of this twin-engine aircraft (Rafale F3R) are equipped with SNECMA M-88 engines. Rafale planes draw attention with their short take-off distance and being able to be deployed on aircraft carriers. An aircraft with the flexibility to perform all kinds of operational missions (air defense, hunting bombardment, defensive pressure, support of naval operations, etc.). France envisages using these aircraft, which entered the inventory of the Navy in 2004 and the Air Force in 2006, without any problems until at least 2040, according to the calculation of 8,000 hours of fuselage life.
France has tried to sell Rafale warplanes to many countries since they entered service. The French Ministers of Defense and even their President acted as the sales representative of Dassault. Sisi, who came to power with a coup in 2013, came to the rescue of Rafale, who has been known as the "Unsold Aircraft" for many years, and 24 Rafale aircraft (5.3 billion euros) were sold to Egypt to ensure the legitimacy of the regime in a way. Later, a package agreement for 24 aircraft (6.3 billion euros) was signed on May 4, 2015 between Qatar and France, which sought political and security support as it was affected by the crisis environment in Syria. Likewise, negotiations with India, which is trying to create a strong air force against Pakistan in the air due to border disputes, for the joint production of a 126 Rafale package in India in 2012, finally with the “ready-to-buy” contract of 36 aircraft signed on September 23, 2016 ( 8.7 billion euros) ended. Greece is the fourth country to buy Rafale planes (2.32 billion euros), while it is also the only country in Europe where France can sell this plane. On the other hand, it is understood that the French sold these planes to Greece at a much more reasonable price than other countries, if the figures in open sources are correct.
Speaking at the delivery ceremony on July 21, Dassault Aviation's Managing Director, Eric Trappier, said: "The Rafale aircraft will play an active role in consolidating the leadership of Greece, a major regional power, in its region." He flattered the Greek pride. Greek Chief of General Staff Konstantinos Floros said, “These aircraft we have received give the country a clear strategic advantage…. "Power multiplier, game changer and at the same time the guarantor of security, peace and stability." The "strategic avant" of an old aircraft delivered People don't wonder what "aj" is! In addition, with AESA radar, Thales Talios new generation laser detection pod, Thales SPECTRA self-protection system, integrated IRST, advanced sensors and joint operations capabilities, capable of launching Meteor air-to-air missile with a longer range than AMRAAM 120D, SCALP cruise missiles and Exocet anti-ship missiles. It is also obvious that the 18 aircraft Rafale (when all modernized) fleet, which is considered to be 4++ generation due to the success of the partial stealth hull design (RCS value 0.5-1.25 m²) and the radar wave absorbing plasma technique, will slightly increase its position in the power comparison tables of the Greek Air Force. A situation. We can say that the Rafale planes supplied by Greece will be capable of carrying nuclear weapons, but we know that whether or not Greece will use such weapons can be decided on NATO platforms.
Currently, 84 F-16 Block 52/52+ aircraft in Greece's inventory are modernized (AN/APG-83 AESA radar, Auto-GCAS, new link and EH systems, IRST pods) with the help of Lockheed Martin of the USA. , digital cockpit capabilities, etc.). The total cost of the project is 2.4 billion USD. The remaining 70 F-16s are trying to make Block 30 and 50 Block M (CCIP modernization). AUP modernization is being carried out on the remaining 25 F-4E aircraft. If realized, combined with the F-35 program of the fifth generation fighter of 24 aircraft, the outstanding overall capability gain for the Greek Air Force will increase significantly in the years after 2027+ if the F-16 V modernization program is completed on time. Greece will also have the opportunity to conduct network-based operations (after F4 modernization) with fifth generation aircraft, along with other capabilities on its approximately 125 SABR and/or AESA radar aircraft. Considering that these aircraft will have an active lifespan until at least 2050, a significant number of modern aircraft will be at the service of Greece. The rest are details.
Since the 1970s, the Greek Air Force has been shaped by two branches according to the American and French schools. There is nothing wrong with this approach. Especially considering that the ITAR restrictions of the USA mean a risk for any country that buys weapons and platforms from American companies, it is a wise attitude for Greece to work with a second country. However, the fact that Rafale aircraft purchased from France can only use French-made weapons and ammunition (with the exception of Meteor) brings a remarkable restriction for the countries that purchase this aircraft. Rafale, which is quite expensive compared to other aircraft in its class, is sold at a price scale close to the F-35 figures! It is a well-known fact in the aviation community that Rafale aircraft, which participated in operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria, showed remarkable performance. However, this performance is valid for air ground missions. In air-air engagements, the Rafale has not yet achieved a proven success despite its superior technical characteristics. It is difficult to understand why Greece prefers to buy 18 Rafale B/C instead of about 40 F-16 V. It can be said that this sales award of France, which responded positively to the request of Greece, which wanted to get the political and military support of France, probably during the warming of the waters in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2019-2020.
The latest versions of the Rafale F3R or Tranche 4 (F4) standard are said by aviation authorities to be equivalent to the F-16 V aircraft. In fact, it may not be the right approach to compare the twin-engine Rafale, whose unit price is around 110-120 million USD, with the single-engine F-16 V with a tag price of 60-65 million USD. The price tags given are the price of the bare plane, compiled from open sources. Training, weapons and ammunition, spare engine, additional logistic support elements and equipment, etc. These figures are not included. Therefore, the sales figures of France for Egypt, Qatar, India and Greece can be very different.
Although the number of engines and costs of these two fighter jets stand out as a significant difference, I think it would be useful to make a comparison because they have a high probability of encountering in possible conflict scenarios. Both aircraft have similar capabilities. The Rafale can outperform the F-16 in close engagement. In its hunting bomber role, its weapon and ammunition capacity (in terms of weight) makes Rafale stand out. The F-16 has a longer range than the Rafale, and the hourly mission cost (F-16 is $12,000 versus the Rafale $28,000) is considerably lower than this aircraft. When these two aircraft come face to face, the main determining factor will be the training and experience level of the pilots and the success in transferring the tactical picture and network-supported operational capabilities (including AWACS radar coating) to the cockpits that will provide the situation advantage. Probably Rafale planes see if If it engages with F-16 aircraft loaded with Meteor, one of the after-air air-to-air missiles, and if it receives good radar support, it can take its place in the battlefield with a situational superiority closer to eliminating the F-16 aircraft.
In any case, by supplying only 7-10% of your fleet of aircraft that are relatively "superior" to the opposing force, it may be unlikely to defeat the opposing force. Having signed the Rafale purchase of 18 aircraft, when Greece makes contact with the counterforce with a higher number of aircraft in air battles, if the counterforce has an unlimited number of air-air weapons and air-ground ammunition of its own production, it will refuel its aircraft with a homogeneous and simple logistic support based on a single aircraft type. It is impossible for Greece not to know that if it can hold it in the air longer with its resupply, it cannot provide an absolute “situational advantage” for such a counterforce.
In the title of our article, “Can Rafale Planes Turn the Balance in the Aegean in Favor of Greece?” Of course, the answer to our question is “No!” will be.
One can't help but think, did the French football acrobats score an expensive goal against the Greeks, who took advantage of the situation in Greece, which is stuck in every way and looking for political and military support in the Eastern Mediterranean?
The abbreviations/terms mentioned in our article are presented in the pictures section in tabular form.
