Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, hosted the ceremony of the delivery of the first Rafale for the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) at the Dassault Aviation Flight Test Centre in Istres, in the presence of Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Greek Minister of National Defence on 21 July 2021. This first delivery comes after six months following the signature of the contract for the acquisition of 18 Rafales. This first aircraft, as well as the next five to come from the French Space and Air Force, will train the HAF Pilots and Technicians in France before deploying to Tanagra Air Force Base. A first group of HAF pilots, already trained for several months by the French Space and Air Force, and 50 HAF technicians will join the Dassault Aviation Conversion Training Centre (CTC) in Mérignac, France to continue their training. The Rafales will provide the HAF with a “latest-generation multirole fighter, enabling the Hellenic Republic to ensure its geostrategic stance in full sovereignty”. The delivery of the first Rafale is a “clear demonstration of France’s determination to meet the government of the Hellenic Republic expectations and to participate actively to the sovereignty of the country. It illustrates also Dassault Aviation’s outstanding quality of the cooperation with the Hellenic Air Force, through more than 45 years of uninterrupted and strong partnership”.
“Following the Mirage F1 in 1974, the Mirage 2000 in 1985 and the Mirage 2000-5 in 2000, the Rafale is now proudly flying with the Hellenic Air Force colours. The Rafale is a strategic game changer for the HAF. It will play an active role by securing Greece’s leadership as a major regional power. I would like to reaffirm our total commitment to the success of the Rafale in Greece,” stated Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
Dassault Aviation Group 2021 half year results
The Board of Directors met under the chairmanship of Mr. Éric Trappier and approved the 2021 half year financial statements. “The 1st half of 2021 saw contracts for the Rafale Export and Rafale France, the Falcon 6X maiden flight, the resumption of Falcon orders, the Falcon 10X reveal and its first orders. In the military aircraft segment, the year began with the sale to Greece of 18 Rafales (6 new and 12 pre-owned aircraft currently in service with the French military), followed by the sale to France of 12 additional Rafale to replace the 12 pre-owned aircraft sold to Greece, bringing the total Rafale France ordered up to 192. Egypt also signed a contract to purchase an additional 30 Rafales, bringing the number of Rafale in service in the Egyptian Air Force to 54. Croatia announced that it had selected the Rafale with a view to acquiring 12 pre-owned aircraft from France. Other highlights included: Active discussions and negotiations for the FCAS continued during the 1st half of 2021: the Joint Concept Study (JCS) launched in January 2019 is nearing completion. Launched in February 2020, phase 1A of the FCAS demonstrators, and the New Generation Fighter in particular, is continuing. The focus is on aerodynamics, with the first wind tunnel tests scheduled for September 2021. The contract for phase 1B (under negotiation) is still to be signed. This will cover all the work carried out jointly between France, Germany and Spain until 2024 (NGF demonstrator studies, for which Dassault Aviation is the prime contractor). The contract for the Eurodrone, a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone, between the OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) and Airbus Defence and Space (the prime contractor) has been negotiated. Notification is expected in 2nd half 2021. During the 1st half of the year, we delivered 13 Rafale Export (India and Qatar) and continued to support the French and Export fleets. We delivered 6 Falcon during the 1st half of the year and booked 25 new aircraft orders (vs. 16 deliveries and 5 orders in 1st half 2020). The 2021 guidance remains unchanged, ie, delivery of 25 new Rafales and 25 new Falcons.
Courtesy: Dassault
