Four Rafale fighter jets of the French Air Force have been at the Tanagra air base since yesterday, participating in the “Skyros 2021” exercise with Greece.
The exercise began on Tuesday and will end on Friday.
A Rafale fighter jet of the French Air Force taxis on the tarmac during a joint military drill at Tanagra military air base, north of Athens, Thursday. Greek and French military leaders observed an exercise by French Rafales following a 2.3-billion-euro deal for Greece to buy 18 of the jets.
As part of the bilateral exercise, in addition to the French Rafale jets, the 114th Battle Wing consisting of Mirage 2000 and F-16 fighter jets, as well as two A400M Atlas transports and an A330 MRTT aircraft of the French Air Force, are involved.
The purpose of the exercise is to train personnel in executing complex aeronautical operations, which will be conducted day and night throughout the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR).
On Thursday, the military and political leadership of the Ministry of National Defense, the French ambassador in Athens, the French military delegation, foreign defense attorneys, as well as Greek and French journalists, will visit the exercises.
At the same time, French media are reporting on the acquisition of Rafale, but also on the possible purchase of F-35s from the US.
In fact, they report that the Greek Air Force not only has the upper hand in the region, but with the addition of American fighters, no one is going to challenge the Greek FIR.The exercise was observed by the top leadership of the Greek Armed Forces, the chief of the French Air Force, General Laurent Lherbette, French Ambassador to Athens Patrick Maisonnave, defense attaches from several embassies, and French/Greek journalists.Ambassador Maisonnave welcomed Greece to the “Rafale Club” and noted that Greece acquired “weapons of superiority and power.”He also said that France shares a common vision with Greece for security in the East Mediterranean that respects sovereign rights of all states without threats and bullying.Lherbette called Greece “an ally, a partner and a friend” and said he was especially proud that the French fighter jets would be flying in Greece. France’s Air Force will also participate in the exercise “Iniochos”, which will allow the further exchange of experiences among pilots of both countries, he said.
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