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The new Rafale was welcomed by the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during the arrival ceremony of the aircraft from France. In his speech, the prime minister said, among other things:
“The gusts of wind are ready to guard the Greek skies.
In 2022, the next six Rafale will arrive and by the middle of 2023 six more, to be followed immediately by the last six.
Their acquisition is connected with the renewal of the equipment of our air force, which was characterized as urgent, but it also responds to the current needs of our defense and the conditions above the national territory and in the Aegean, continuing the tradition of the Greek-French cooperation.
This is a front-line geostrategic development, which makes our aviation one of the strongest in Europe and the Mediterranean. It seals the defense alliance of Greece and France, giving new breath to the perspective of the European strategy of autonomy.
The new Rafale are ready to take off for a new, more peaceful tomorrow for the wider region.
Soon, they will operate alongside new French frigates, with whom they share a common operating philosophy.
We do not need anyone’s permission to acquire Rafale.
I will not tire of repeating that with the same determination that we close the door on every threat, we keep the windows of dialog open.
The new fighters will join the Geraki (trnsl. falcon) squadron, as falcon was the name of one of the first planes that Greece received again 110 years ago once again from France under Eleftherios Venizelos. Years of prosperity and triumph for Greece followed.
I welcome the Rafale pilots, who brought them here from France, in the words of Eleftherios Venizelos: Greece will always monitor the progress of nations and I hope that through our planes, our national hope will rise'”.
The Prime Minister also announced that the flight, spacial forces, bomb disposal and submarine allowances of the Armed Forces are exempt from any tax.
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