France plans to order 12 new Rafale aircraft to replace those sold to Greece

French Air Force Rafale. France plans to order 12 new Rafale aircraft to replace those sold to Greece.

The French government is planning to order 12 new Rafale fighter jets by the end of the year to replace the batch of second-hand aircraft that the French Air Force (FAF) will hand over to Greece, according to DefenseNews.

The French government had already announced that any Rafale removed from the FAF inventory would be replaced in order not to affect operations. French Defense Minister Florence Parly said the military program foresees a fleet of 129 Rafales by 2025 and it will be respected.

This replacement will allow the FAF to benefit from more of the latest generation standard F4 Rafales.

Dassault Aviation has yet to produce 28 aircraft for the FAF which will be delivered between 2022 and 2024. The 12 new ones would be delivered soon after these. Furthermore, by 2023 the Ministry of Defense plans to order another 30 Rafale that will be delivered starting in 2027.

Written by Matteo Sanzani

Image: Dassault Aviation