The sale of forty European fighter jets to Turkey may strengthen its air force, but it doesn’t allow Ankara to shift the balance of power. A comparison—especially against the French Rafales and even more so with the American F-35s—shows that Greece will continue to hold the upper hand.

Rafale vs Eurofighter, and then… the F-35s arrive: A comparative look at the Greek and Turkish air forces

In any other era, this might be seen as a new chapter of arms races with “bombards” and military prestige. But today, Turkey’s deal with Britain and Germany to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets is being evaluated—both by Greek and Turkish military officials—as significant but not game-changing. It’s unlikely to disrupt the balance or challenge Greece’s aerial superiority in the Aegean. But is that really the case?

For the average observer, the big question is whether the Eurofighter is a better fighter jet than the Rafale, which the Hellenic Air Force already possesses.

However, beyond comparing aircraft one-to-one, what’s most important for a modern air force isn’t just winning Top Trumps-style showdowns. It’s about building a cohesive, well-integrated, and technologically advanced force structure. And Greece has achieved that, with a mix of Rafales, F-16 Vipers, Mirages, aging F-4 Phantoms, and—most critically—F-35s. The 4.5-generation aircraft (Rafale and Viper) are designed to plug and play with the 5th-gen F-35s.

This is why Turkey, after securing the Eurofighters, is now actively pursuing the F-35s—the crown jewel of any air force. If Ankara were to succeed, it would likely cause anxiety on both sides of its borders, not only in Greece but also in Israel.

The Comparison

Greece was informed early on about the intentions of Friedrich Merz and Keir Starmer to tighten ties with Ankara, starting with fighter jet sales. Turkey’s air force, which is technologically outdated and relies heavily on older F-16 Block 30s (two generations behind current standards), has been eager to acquire 4+ generation jets to balance Greece’s acquisition of 24 French Rafales (expected to rise to 30–36 by 2030) and to bridge toward the 5th generation—namely the F-35, which Greece has already agreed to purchase (20 aircraft).

For the Eurofighter consortium—made up of Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain, and represented by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo—this Turkish deal is a godsend. As Keir Starmer noted, “It will preserve jobs in our country.” The Eurofighter program was nearing its end, with most European air forces now focusing heavily on the F-35 due to the rapid evolution of aerospace tech (especially with China entering the game). Within a few years, 5th-gen fighters will face competition from 6th-gen aircraft. As such, development of the Eurofighter is winding down, and its long-term support may be limited.

Rafale – Greece’s Advantage

That’s not the case with the Rafale, despite its similarities. The French have secured a broad customer base for their advanced jet, with buyers in India, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Serbia, Croatia, Indonesia, and even Austria, which is replacing its aging Eurofighters with Rafales. This widespread adoption ensures ongoing development and support, making it the top option for countries without access to the F-35.

In the aerial face-off between Greece and Turkey, the question “Which is better?” is not hard to answer. Both jets are twin-engine multirole fighters with modern radars, electronic warfare systems, and advanced weapons integration. They even stem from the same Cold War-era European project, from which France withdrew in 1985. But key differences have emerged since then.

Dogfight Capabilities: Eurofighter is faster and more agile

The biggest difference lies in engine design. The Rafale’s French Snecma M88 engines produce about 75 kN of thrust with afterburner, while the Eurofighter’s British EJ200s deliver 90 kN—around 30% more.

The Rafale’s climb rate (about 300 m/s), top speed (Mach 1.8), and service ceiling (under 16 km) are below average for a 4th-gen fighter. The Eurofighter performs much better, with a climb rate of 320 m/s, top speed above Mach 2, and a ceiling close to 20 km.

However, Rafale compensates with more fuel-efficient engines, which allow for longer range, as well as greater reliability and lower maintenance costs. The M88 engines are also considered easier and cheaper to service than the EJ200s, giving Rafale a lower operational cost.

Electronic Warfare: Rafale is generations ahead

While Greece uses Mirage and F-16 Vipers for traditional dogfighting, the Rafale’s edge is in its technology. Like the F-35, its goal is to “kill before being seen.” It uses stealth coatings and materials to reduce radar signature (RCS), approaching the stealth profile of the F-15 Silent Eagle.

This stealth capability was clearly demonstrated in combat when Egyptian-operated (likely) Rafales bombed the heavily defended Turkish air base at Al-Watiya in Libya undetected.

The key to this is Rafale’s SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, unmatched by Eurofighter. Developed by MBDA and Thales, SPECTRA offers long-range detection and identification of electromagnetic, infrared, laser, and missile threats, equipped with appropriate sensors, radar jammers, and countermeasures.

It gives the pilot real-time info and options—jam radar, deploy flares, perform evasive maneuvers, or counterattack. It can also create radar confusion, projecting up to 16 false signatures to simulate multiple aircraft.

SPECTRA even includes a threat library. When it identifies a radar signature, it doesn’t just provide a bearing—it tells the pilot exactly what it is (e.g., a Eurofighter). Eurofighter has no equivalent system.

Cockpit: Rafale is more modern

Unlike the Eurofighter, Rafale has a fully digital touchscreen cockpit and supports the Targo II helmet-mounted display (HMD) used by Greek pilots. This allows them to see all critical flight and targeting data directly on the helmet visor, and to aim simply by looking.

This is paired with a fully digital AESA radar (Active Electronically Scanned Array), the same radar tech used in the F-22 and F-35. Eurofighter jets are only now beginning to receive this upgrade, which means Turkey’s Eurofighters won’t have it immediately.

The AESA radar enables the Rafale to independently track and engage targets, map terrain in high resolution, detect stealth aircraft and drones, and prioritize threats—all while providing strong electronic counter-countermeasures. Turkey is developing its own AESA radar (Murad 100-A), tested on a Bayraktar drone, but integrating it into Eurofighters is a major technical challenge.

Weapons: Rafale has more capacity and versatility

Rafale has an integrated targeting system in its nose, which means it can carry external payloads of up to 21,000 lbs compared to Eurofighter’s 16,500 lbs.

It’s assumed that Turkey will equip its Eurofighters with Meteor air-to-air missiles and long-range strike weapons like Taurus missiles, similar to Greece’s Meteor and SCALP EG systems.

The Meteor, also carried by Greek Rafales, has a range over 100 km, with some estimates reaching 200 km. They fly at Mach 4.5 and have a 25-kg warhead. They’re considered extremely difficult to intercept.

However, Greece has the upper hand with SCALP EG cruise missiles—300 km range, 120-kg warhead—designed to strike airports and docked ships. Turkey is expected to arm its Eurofighters with the British equivalent, Storm Shadow.

Greece’s Rafales also carry Exocet (anti-ship), AASM Hammer (air-to-ground), and SmartGlider bombs. Turkey’s Eurofighters are likely to use the shorter-range IRIS-T (also on Greek F-16s), AMRAAM, ASRAAM (whose effectiveness in Ukraine is debated), and smart bombs.

Pilot Experience: A Critical Edge for Greece

Analysts stress that experience is crucial. The Hellenic Air Force has decades of success flying French jets like the Mirage and delta-wing fighters in general. For Turkey, operating European fighters will be an entirely new chapter.