Fourth-generation jet fighter

French Defense Minister Florence Parly is expected in Athens on Monday for the signing of the agreement for the purchase by Greece of 18 Dassault-made Rafale jets.

The deal is scheduled to be signed at the Ministry of Defense at 1.35 p.m. Parly will meet with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at 4.30 p.m.

As part of ongoing efforts to further strengthen bilateral relations, French Defense Minister Florence Parly will visit Athens on Monday and sign the agreement for the purchase by Greece of 18 Dassault-made Rafale jets.

Greek MPs approved the purchase of six new and 12 used Rafale aircraft from France for 2.5 billion euros ($3.04 billion) earlier this month.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly will visit Athens on Monday as Greece and France sign a deal for the purchase of 18 Dassault-made Rafale jets.

Greek MPs approved the purchase of six new and 12 used Rafale aircraft from France for 2.5 billion euros ($3.04 billion) earlier this month.

Turkish fighter jets violated Greek airspace in the eastern Aegean three times on Wednesday, according to the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA).

A pair of Turkish F-16s entered Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) without submitting a flight plan and flew at 25,000 feet over the islets of Panagia and Oinousses at 3.29 p.m.

With the Greek Parliament having successfully voted for the acquisition of 18 Rafale fighter planes from France on Thursday, the government's next priority is the upgrading of the Hellenic Navy, mainly through the acquisition of new frigates and the upgrading of existing ones.

Parliament on Thursday approved the purchase of 18 French Rafale fighter jets by an overwhelming majority, with only the Communist Party (KKE) and leftist MeRA25 voting against.

The purchase of the jets and compatible air-to-air Meteor missiles are expected set Greece back 2.3 billion euros.

Greek lawmakers approved the purchase of 18 Dassault-made Rafale jets from France for 2.5 billion euros ($3.04 billion) on Thursday, in a deal due to be signed by the Greek and French defence ministers later this month.

Two military pilots will join the second and third groups that are earmarked to go to the US to be trained to pilot F-16 fighter jets, said Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov at the sitting of the parliamentary defense committee.

Greek lawmakers are scheduled to vote Thursday on a defense procurement program to purchase 18 French-made Rafale fighter planes, part of an armaments plan announced by the government in September.

A parliamentary committee has given approval in principle to a bill opening the way for the purchase of 18 Dassault-made Rafale fighter jets from France for a total of 2.5 billion euros ($3.04 billion).