Greece intends to buy more Rafale jets, frigate from France: Kathimerini newspaper

Athens also seeking to postpone installment payments to Paris for previous arms deals

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Greece intends to buy more Rafale fighter jets and a frigate from France, media reports said Thursday.

The issue of purchasing six to 12 more jets in addition to the 24 the country already ordered and one more FDI-type frigate to the already ordered three ships is expected to be discussed during Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ visit to France on June 6 for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landing, according to the daily Kathimerini.

The newspaper said the additional planes could be drawn from the inventory of the French Air Force rather than a factory.

To create funds to buy the jets, Athens is seeking to sell France the 24 Mirage 2000-5 jets it wants to discard, it said.

Furthermore, Greece is considering a postponement of installment payments to Paris for previous arms deals to 2028 - 2030 to overcome the financial constraints before the new arms deals are signed.

Kaynak:

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