Greece Plans Additional Rafale Purchase in Response to Turkey’s Eurofighter Order

The delicate balance of air power over the Aegean Sea is shifting once again. Greece is now considering the purchase of additional Dassault Rafale fighter jets in response to Turkey’s confirmed deal to acquire Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft — a move that has reignited the long-standing aerial rivalry between the two NATO allies.

A Strategic Response to Turkey’s Eurofighter Acquisition

Reports from Ekathimerini and French defense outlets suggest that the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is actively evaluating an order for more Rafales, potentially in the F4 configuration, as part of its broader modernization plan. The development comes after Ankara sealed a $10.7 billion agreement with the United Kingdom for 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, with options for additional units in the future.

For Athens, Turkey’s Eurofighter purchase represents not just another procurement, but a potential shift in regional air superiority. Turkish officials have indicated their Typhoons will be armed with MBDA Meteor missiles, capable of engaging targets at ranges exceeding 150 kilometers — a direct challenge to Greece’s current advantage in long-range air combat.

Maintaining the Edge: Greece’s Rafale Plan

Greece first ordered 18 Rafales in 2021 — 12 second-hand and six new — and later expanded that number to 24 aircraft. The jets, based at Tanagra Air Base, have already transformed the operational posture of the HAF with their advanced sensors, AESA radar, and compatibility with Meteor and MICA missiles.

Now, Greek defense planners are studying the acquisition of six to twelve more Rafales, possibly of the F4 variant, to further strengthen their qualitative advantage. The Rafale F4 introduces several key upgrades:

• Enhanced data links and communication systems for network-centric warfare

• A more advanced infrared search and track (IRST) system

• Integration with the MICA NG (New Generation) missile

• Upgraded SPECTRA electronic warfare suite for improved survivability

• Expanded multi-domain combat capability, integrating air, sea, and land operations

The Rafale F4 is designed to remain at the cutting edge through the 2030s, offering Greece a reliable platform even as other regional powers modernize their fleets.

The Broader Modernization Framework

The new Rafale discussions are part of Greece’s long-term defense modernization plan (2025–2036), valued at over €25 billion. Alongside new fighters, the plan includes:

• The F-16 Viper upgrade program, bringing Greece’s existing fleet to 4.5-generation standards

• New air defense and missile systems

• Investment in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and naval modernization

Athens’ ultimate objective is to maintain a fleet of around 200 modern combat aircraft, phasing out older platforms like the Mirage 2000-5 and F-4 Phantom.

The Aegean Rivalry Intensifies

The Greek-Turkish air competition has long been a mirror of their geopolitical tensions — over maritime boundaries, energy exploration rights, and regional influence. With Turkey’s new Eurofighters expected to enter service later this decade, Athens fears a narrowing technological gap.

Greece’s Rafales, however, currently give it an advantage in sensor fusion, long-range targeting, and electronic warfare. The combination of Meteor missiles and supercruise capability makes the Rafale a formidable opponent, and additional purchases could ensure that advantage remains intact as Turkey upgrades its own forces.

Turkish officials have also hinted at parallel progress with the KAAN stealth fighter, formerly known as TF-X, which is expected to enter testing in the coming years. This adds another layer to Athens’ decision-making — to ensure Greece retains a robust, interoperable fleet until fifth-generation platforms become available.

Regional and Strategic Implications

Beyond national pride, the race for air superiority in the Eastern Mediterranean carries broader NATO implications. Both Greece and Turkey are alliance members, yet their bilateral disputes routinely bring tension within NATO’s southern flank. A growing Greek Rafale fleet — potentially interoperable with France and Egypt — could also strengthen Athens’ position in regional security frameworks.

France, meanwhile, sees continued Rafale sales as both an industrial success and a means to reinforce strategic influence in the Mediterranean. The potential deal would also boost Dassault Aviation’s export record, already bolstered by sales to India, Egypt, Croatia, and the UAE.

While no official order has been placed yet, sources close to Greece’s Ministry of Defense indicate that discussions with Dassault Aviation are underway and could be finalized once budget approvals are cleared.

If completed, this follow-on Rafale acquisition would cement Greece’s airpower dominance in the Aegean — at least for the near future. Yet, with Turkey’s Eurofighters and KAAN program advancing, the regional air balance remains fluid and unpredictable.

In the Aegean skies, superiority is not a one-time achievement — it’s a constant race. Greece’s move to expand its Rafale fleet shows that it intends to stay ahead of its rival, no matter how fast Ankara climbs.