The government denies French report claiming a plan is being considered to send Mirage jets to Ukraine in exchange for acquiring Rafale

A study by the French newspaper Le Parisien Matin stated contiguous that negotiations are underway betwixt Emmanuel Macron and the Greek authorities regarding the transportation of Greek Mirage 2000 combatant jets to Ukraine, arsenic portion of a broader speech statement involving French Rafale jets, up of the French president’s sojourn to Greece on Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25.

However, authorities spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, during a briefing of governmental editors, was asked astir the study and responded that it is not true.

“This is not true, nor could specified a happening happen, due to the fact that the Mirage craft are purely operational. Therefore, determination is nary ground to this information,” Marinakis stated.

How the program is described

The program outlined by the paper is based connected a analyzable concern and subject mechanism, according to which France proposes purchasing the full Greek Mirage 2000 fleet truthful the craft tin beryllium transferred to the Eastern European beforehand successful Ukraine. In return, Greece would unafraid favorable presumption for acquiring next-generation Rafale combatant jets from Dassault, portion besides advancing the modernization of its Armed Forces nether the “Agenda 2030” plan.

The fleet nether information includes 24 Mirage 2000-5 Mk II aircraft, known for their interception capabilities, arsenic good arsenic 17 to 19 older Mirage EGM/BGM models, which could beryllium utilized arsenic a root of spare parts. However, the occurrence of the program mostly depends connected Dassault’s quality to present Rafale jets connected time, astatine a infinitesimal erstwhile request for the craft is already precise high.

Key factors for Athens

Beyond the method aspects, governmental and geostrategic factors stay significant. Athens indispensable measurement the hazard of creating a spread successful its aerial defense, particularly regarding information successful the Aegean, which is simply a apical priority. At the aforesaid time, the planned extremity of method enactment for Mirage 2000-5 craft by Dassault successful 2027 makes this enactment much realistic for Greece.

The French Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the inaugural is portion of a broader European strategy to coordinate resources, aiming to make a cohesive “fighter pitchy alliance.” The transportation of Mirage craft is expected to importantly fortify Ukraine’s operational capabilities, arsenic these jets tin transportation SCALP missiles and execute effectual aerial surveillance missions.

According to a subject advisor to the French presidency, “this program represents the astir important boost to Ukrainian aerial powerfulness since the commencement of the war.” Logistical integration remains a challenge, but France has committed to providing afloat method enactment to travel the transportation of the Greek Mirage craft to Ukrainian territory.

What comes next

The coming weeks are considered captious for finalizing the fiscal presumption of the agreement, with Emmanuel Macron expected to sermon the contented astatine the highest level and formally ratify the presumption during his gathering with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis successful Athens. Greece is seeking assurances that nary operational spread volition arise, portion the anticipation of including further equipment, specified arsenic precocious air-to-air missiles, is besides being examined.

France could see batches of high-performance air-to-air missiles to guarantee the contiguous effectiveness of the Mirage transportation to Ukraine. Kyiv is present awaiting the last greenish airy from Greek authorities, hoping that this large reinforcement volition assistance support its cities and captious infrastructure from ongoing Russian aerial threats.

This contented is expected to stay astatine the forefront of European subject developments until its completion, projected for precocious April.

Broader implications

This anticipation has wider European significance, arsenic it strengthens France’s strategical power successful defence and reshapes however subject instrumentality is managed among allies. Moreover, according to the report, it weakens the taboo astir large-scale transfers of dense weapons and establishes a caller model: a “circular economy” of arms.