Hellenic Air Force

France looks forward to further strengthening its already close relations with Greece, Florence Parly told Kathimerini in an interview shortly after the signing of the agreement for the purchase of 18 Rafale fighters by Greece in Athens.

Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly signed a contract today for Athens' purchase of 18 Rafale fighter jets.

The addition of the French war planes to the Greek Air Force fleet has been touted as giving the Greek Air Force a strategic boost in its deterrent force at a time of heightened tensions with Turkey.

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.

The addition of the semi-stealth fighter jet to the Greek Air Force is a step in the right direction

Naval units from Greece and the United Arab Emirates are seen taking part in a joint three-day military exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean which wrapped up on Tuesday. The drill, which involved one UAE corvette, two Greek frigates and Hellenic Air Force aircraft, focused on communications, anti-aircraft warfare and fast-roping from helicopters.

Images were released on Saturday of last week's Hellenic Navy exercise that took place from Tuesday to Friday in the wider sea area of the central and northern Aegean. Frigates, surveillance ships, submarines, helicopters of the navy's aviation force and Hellenic Air Force planes took part in the four-day drill.

Greek and US military aircraft recently welcomed North Macedonia's accession to the NATO alliance, flying in the Balkan country's airspace.

A pair of Turkish fighter jets entered Athens' Flight Information Region (FIR) without submitting a flight plan on Wednesday and flew over the islet of Farmakonisi in the eastern Aegean.

The airspace violation was recorded at 1.58 p.m. at 25,000 feet.

They were chased off by Greek air force pilots in line with international rules of engagement. 

Hellenic Air Force fighter jets and helicopters flew over the capital at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday as a practice run ahead of the March 25 national holiday, the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) said.

A Mirage-3000 and an F-16 jet flew twice over Athens, according to GEETHA.

Six days after two Turkish fighter jets flew over the islet of Ro, in the eastern Mediteranean, a new pair of F-16s flew over it on Tuesday afternoon, the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) said.

The fighter jets entered Athens' Flight Information Region at 4.52 p.m. without submitting a flight plan, flying at 10,000 feet.