The Hellenic Air Force is facing a perplexing situation regarding its Mirage 2000-5 fleet. Despite efforts to find a buyer, the prospect of selling these delta-winged fighters remains elusive, casting a shadow over their future within Greece’s evolving air power strategy.
Jerry Gunner from Lincoln, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To provide context, the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) has been trying to dispose of its older Mirage 2000 EGM/BGM models. These aircraft, retired in January 2022 following the arrival of Dassault Rafales, have largely been left to languish. Grounded due to a lack of support, many are stored at Tanagra Air Base, with some cannibalised for spare parts. India, which maintains around 50 Mirage 2000s, has been mentioned as a potential buyer for the 18 aircraft.
However, it is the Mirage 2000-5 that presents a more immediate challenge. Athens had hoped to capitalise on selling these aircraft to secure additional Rafales, but those plans are faltering.
A key obstacle lies in France’s apparent disinterest in purchasing the Mirage 2000-5s. This is a significant blow, as a potential deal with France could have facilitated the further procurement of Rafales, a cornerstone of Greece’s air force modernisation program. For years, Athens has been trying to sell the Mirage aircraft, but previous attempts to find potential customers have failed. Although Ukraine has expressed interest in acquiring the aircraft, Greece is only interested in selling, not donating, the aircraft to fund new acquisitions. The lack of interest from France and other potential buyers is reducing the options available to the Hellenic Air Force for utilising its Mirage 2000-5 fleet.
Adding to the complexity is the looming expiration of the Follow On Support (FOS) agreement for the Mirage 2000-5 in 2027. With the manufacturer intending to focus on Rafale support, the future availability of maintenance and spare parts for the Mirages is uncertain. This raises the spectre of aircraft being grounded for even minor repairs, potentially diminishing the operational readiness of the fleet.
The Hellenic Ministry of National Defence’s new force structure plans, which include upgraded F-16s, Rafales and F-35s, do not factor in the Mirage 2000-5. Moreover, in an era of network-centric warfare, the Mirage 2000-5’s lack of a Link 16 data transfer system puts it at a disadvantage. A plan to equip the Mirages with Link-16 was abandoned because of cost.
Faced with these challenges, the Hellenic Air Force is at a crossroads. It seeks to utilise the Mirage 2000-5 for as long as they are operational, ensuring they do not suffer the same fate as the earlier EGM/BGM models, which now sit grounded, awaiting a potential buyer. The clock is ticking, and decisions must be made to ensure Greece’s air power remains potent and relevant in the face of evolving threats.
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Donate one of the Mirage 2000-5s to the Udvar Hazy museum and they will hang it upwards.