Rafale

Greece will pay a total of 2.3 billion euros ($2.8 billion) under a deal it is due to sign soon with France for the purchase of 18 Dassault-made Rafale fighter jets, its government spokesman said on Thursday.

Greece will buy six newly-built and 12 second-hand Rafale jets for 1.92 billion euros and pay another 400 million for their equipment, Stelios Petsas told a televised briefing.

Greece on Tuesday said it will take delivery of 18 French-made Rafale fighter jets next year, as part of a major 11.5-billion-euro ($14.5-billion) drive to modernize its armed forces amid tension with neighbor Turkey.

Greece will sign a deal with France for the purchase of 18 Dassault-made Rafale fighter jets within days, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday.

Greece's purchase of Rafale fighter jets, whose acquisition is expected to be approved by the Greek Parliament next week, was discussed on Tuesday by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos and his French counterpart Florence Parly.

The French military conducted training exercises with Greek forces off the southern island of Crete on Thursday, defence sources said, as tension persisted with Turkey over disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

The French military conducted training exercises with Greek forces off the southern island of Crete on Thursday, defence sources said, as tension persisted with Turkey over disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

France will send two Rafale fighter jets and the naval frigate "Lafayette" to the eastern Mediterranean as part of plans to increase its military presence in the region, the armed forces ministry said on Thursday, amid signs of tension with Turkey.

Europe's largest warship, the French navy flagship Charles De Gaulle, docked at Limassol port once again on Friday, in view of upcoming joint military exercises between the armies of Cyprus and France.

French Rafale fighter jets put the capabilities of the Cyprus army's anti-aircraft umbrella to the test during a joint military exercise on Monday.

The Rafale combat aircraft launched into Cyprus skies from aboard the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, the French navy flagship, and took on the role of attack to test the effectiveness of the Cyprus army's anti-aircraft warfare.

Amid rising tensions in the East Mediterranean, the flagship of the French Navy, aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, remains in Block 8 of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, bearing a small fleet of Rafale fighter jets, helicopters, other aircraft and drones.