October 6, 2024

Valley Post

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18 Rafales in the summer are causing nightmares in Turkey – and new “snakes” are joining the Air Force’s arsenal

18 Rafales in the summer are causing nightmares in Turkey – and new “snakes” are joining the Air Force’s arsenal

With the expected arrival tomorrow at Tanagra and the 332nd Fighter Squadron “Falcon” of the 17th French Rafale fighter until the end of August of the 18th “Burst”, the penultimate round of deliveries of the French “game-changer” fighters to the Air Force closes.

These are the last two of the 12 aircraft in use from Armee De’l Air under an agreement to purchase a total of 24 French Rafales. 18 initially – 12 new and 6 used – as provided in the first agreement plus an additional 6 as decided later. The Air Force will receive the last six new aircraft over the next year.

So by the end of 2024, the Royal Air Force “hawks” will have a whole squadron of ultra-modern fighters that have come to change the balance in the region, giving the Air Force a clear qualitative advantage and giving neighbors nightmares.

The receipt of French fighters, but above all the integration of French fighters into the arsenal of the Air Force with the rapid integration of the Rafale into the operational plans of the British Air Force, is marked not only by the flight data of our country but also of the whole world as a small miracle. With fast-track actions at all levels, from contract signing and training of HAF executives to receiving and operating certification for the squadron to break every record.

The decisive factor is not only the simultaneous acquisition of Rafale weapons driving the “Invincible” meteors, but also the training of crews and weapons technicians.

And, perhaps, for understandable reasons, the Air Force does not advertise the training of pilots on Rafale weapons and especially on the classified Meteor, but Newpost information speaks of a really advanced level of training. With the results of virtual weather interactions more than impressive for the performance of Meteor.

However, the use of the already known mica from the “bursts” shows that these missiles, along with meteorites, are very reliable solutions, especially when they are guided by powerful and modern electronic systems from Rafale.

At the same time, the good news for the Air Force doesn’t stop there. In the afternoon, the F-16 Viper prototype landed at Tanagra and ODA facilities after more than two years of testing in the USA. The single-seat fighter of the 335th Fighter Squadron “Tiger” with serial number “005” will stay for a few days at the facilities of the Greek Aerospace Industry and after that it will fly to Souda and its new “nest”, which is none other than the 343rd Fighter Squadron “Asteri”.

The prototype “Viper” made the transatlantic flight with Israeli F-16s and a US Air Force flying tanker refueling in mid-air over the Atlantic. By the end of the month, according to the ODA plan, along with “005”, three more upgraded Vipers will be delivered to the Air Force, with the “Vipers” now reaching a total of thirteen.