Credit: Falcon_33, CC BY-SA 2.0
Newly-acquired, ultra-modern Rafale fighter jets from Greece have participated in this year’s demanding NATO training program for fighter pilots for the first time, with Greek crews earning admiration, respect, and valuable experience.
Four Greek Rafale fighter jets and their crews of the 332 Squadron “Geraki” (Hawk) flew from their home base at Tanagra’s 114 Combat Wing to Llanos air base in Albacete, Spain, where for three weeks, they participated in highly-demanding training operations and undertook hugely challenging scenarios, both in the skies and on the ground. Greek fighter pilots trained alongside crews and jets from France with Mirage 2000D, Germany with Tornado and Eurofighter, United Kingdom with Eurofighter, Italy with F-35 and Eurofighter and Spain.
NATO’s Tactical Leadership Program (TLP), tapped as Europe’s “Top Gun,” is considered one of the top tactical schools for fighter jet pilots and is designed to teach aircrews to lead, train, and operate missions together. Students are exposed to challenging scenarios based on current and emerging threats that NATO nations might encounter throughout the three-week course. It includes twelve missions in total, designed on the ground and then applied in the skies under realistic conditions.
In total, 32 fighter jets participated in this year’s TLP, separated in “Blue” and “Red.” Greek Rafales participated in both groups, meaning they were flying almost constantly and were exposed to almost all scenarios. Among the 900 personnel participating in the school, of these, 26 were fighter pilots and six were information officers.
Greece has participated in NATO’s Tactical Leadership Program for years, (in 2023 with F16s) and Greek crews have won the prestigious “Best Warrior” title several times.
More distinctions for Greece’s air force
Greece’s air force won two additional distinctions during an exercise in Saudi Arabia earlier this month. The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) participated in the Multinational Advanced Tactical Airlift and Air Mobility Capabilities exercise “TUWAIQ-4” at Prince Sultan air base with a C-130 aircraft and personnel from the 356th Tactical Transport Squadron of the 112 Combat Wing in Elefsis.
The Greek mission achieved first place from a total of seven other jets in a precision drop competition from a height of 10,000 feet. The competition involved a coordinated flight with fighter aircraft and an airborne radar system, followed by a supply drop. Additionally, the Greek mission earned second place among eleven aircraft in a door bundle precision drop from a height of 500 feet.
Participants in the exercise, apart from Greece, included Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Greece’s new Rafale fighter jet fleet
On January 26th, 2022, the first six Rafale aircraft landed at Tanagra’s 114 Combat Wing and joined the 332 Squadron (established in 1989), replacing the Mirage 2000 aircraft.
These six Rafales are new-build aircraft, ordered in March 2022 along with three FDI frigates. Once they enter service, the 332nd will have 24 combat-ready aircraft, making them the most modern in Greece’s arsenal until the F-35s arrive later this decade.
The squadron has been receiving one aircraft per month, with deliveries to be completed by January 2025. It has already participated in several multinational air exercises, including Ramstein Flag and Iniochos.
The 332 squadron’s call sign is “Geraki,” (Hawk), and its emblem is the grey-colored peregrine hawk, best known for its diving speed during flight.
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