France Offers Greece a Deal: Send All Mirage 2000 Jets to Ukraine for Discounted Rafales

France-Greece Agreement

According to Главком: France has proposed an agreement to Greece involving the transfer of its entire fleet of Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine. In return, Greece would receive a discount on the purchase of French Rafale aircraft. The proposal, put forward by Dassault Aviation, is expected to be presented by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Greece on April 24–25. Greece would exchange its air fleet of 43 Mirage jets-24 of which are Mirage 2000-5 models and 19 older Mirage 2000 EGM/BGM variants.

Not all aircraft are operational, as the older versions have already been retired from service. France is offering to supply Greece with an equivalent number of Rafale fighters at a reduced price. Specific terms and the exact cost are set to be finalized during negotiations. This exchange would allow Greece’s 114th Fighter Wing to equip two squadrons with 36 Rafale jets.

Impact on Aviation

In March 2024, Greece announced plans to retire and sell its older Mirage models. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, a Mirage 2000 fighter crashed on July 22, 2025. The pilot ejected and guided the aircraft away from a residential area to prevent casualties. Additionally, Norway has transferred six F-16 fighters to Ukraine, which are formally owned by Ukraine but remain abroad for maintenance and training.

This deal could significantly affect military aviation in both Greece and Ukraine. It not only supports the modernization of Greece’s air fleet but also strengthens Ukraine’s defense capabilities amid the current security situation. The jet exchange also highlights deepening cooperation between the countries and French support, potentially influencing future defense agreements in the region.