In exchange, Greece could receive favorable terms for acquiring Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation. However, a key question remains how many of the country’s 43 Mirage aircraft are still operational and combat-ready.
French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Greece on April 24–25, where discussions will focus on extending a bilateral security agreement for another five years. According to reports, the possible transfer of Greek Mirage fighters to Ukraine may also be on the agenda, particularly in the context of broader regional security concerns.
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Earlier reports suggested that France was considering the option of securing Mirage 2000-5 fighters for Ukraine from Greece. Now, according to Greek media, these discussions may be moving toward more concrete steps at the presidential level.
Greek outlet Estia reports that Macron is expected to present a proposal allowing Greece to exchange its Mirage fleet, along with spare parts, for French-made Rafale aircraft. However, several critical uncertainties remain.
Among them is the number of Rafale jets France is willing to offer and the pricing conditions. Equally important are delivery timelines. Rafale production is currently limited to about two to three aircraft per month, with plans to increase output to four per month only in the coming years. This could create delays, especially given existing orders, including a potential large-scale contract with India.
As for the Mirage fleet itself, it reportedly includes 24 Mirage 2000-5 Mk II fighters and 17 older Mirage 2000 EGM/BGM aircraft, totaling 43 jets. However, not all of them are likely to be operational. The older EGM/BGM variants have already been retired, and Greece previously attempted to sell them as spare parts donors, without success.
The central issue remains whether Greece is willing to approve such a transfer at all. The decision is largely political, despite arguments related to maintaining the country’s own air force capabilities.
Even if an agreement is reached, delivery timelines will likely depend on how quickly Greece receives replacement Rafale aircraft. Another important factor is that the current maintenance contract for Greek Mirage jets expires in 2027.
Earlier, it was also reported that Ukraine could potentially exchange interceptor drones for 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighters, highlighting the growing complexity of negotiations around combat aircraft transfers.
Read more: France Pressures Greece on Mirage 2000-5 Transfer to Ukraine With Rafale Discount Deal, Athens Still Resists
