Summary: The Balkans have emerged as a hotspot for Dassault's Rafale fighter jets. Croatia has received six of twelve ordered jets, while Serbia has also announced plans to adopt the aircraft. Greece, already operating Rafales, is negotiating for up to ten more, intending to replace its aging Mirage 2000-5s.

-This shift is part of Greece's broader effort to modernize its air force, which includes plans to acquire 40 F-35s.

-The Rafale's appeal extends beyond the Balkans to India and the Middle East, although production challenges persist.

-The only 'nightmare' for Dassault will be how to make all of these fighter jets. 

Rafale Fighter Jets: The New Military Trend in the Balkans

The term "Balkanization" is often used to describe a multinational state breaking into smaller entities. But it could be used in a new way, to describe how multiple entities in a region adopt the same military hardware – in this case, the French-made Rafale fighter jet.

The Balkans have become an unexpected hotbed for sales of the Rafale. NATO member Croatia has received the first six out of a planned 12. Its neighbor and regional rival Serbia has also announced it will adopt the aircraft. Greece is moving to acquire up to 10 Rafales built to the latest F4 standard. Athens previously ordered 18 Rafale jets from Paris in early 2021, with a dozen of those planes previously used by the French Air Force, while six were new aircraft manufactured to the F3R standard.

Greece-based Defence Review reported that executives from Dassault are expected to visit Athens in the coming weeks for negotiations on the sale of the additional jets, while Greece is expected to retire its aging fleet of Mirage 2000-5s. The Hellenic Air Force already retired its Dassault Mirage 2000EG fighter jets and 2000BG trainers in 2021. It still operates twenty-five 2000-5 Mk2s, flown by the 331 Squadron "Theseus."  Modernization of the Mirage 2000s – which would include Link 16 terminals to enhance communication with other aircraft – was put on hold due to cost and effectiveness concerns, AeroTime Hub reported.

The Mirage 2000 was designed in the late 1970s and entered service in 1984. Production of the final variants ended in 2007.

The Future of the Hellenic Air Force

As previously reported, Greece is substantially transforming its air force. Athens plans to decommission and sell parts of its diverse fleet, including F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets, as part of its efforts to modernize and streamline military capabilities for the 21st century.

In addition to the Rafale, Athens is looking to bolster its air force with 40 fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs, pending U.S. Congressional approval.

The Dassault Rafale Nightmare – The Fighter Everyone Wants To Buy 

The sudden interest in the Dassault Rafale extends beyond the Balkans: India and nations in the Middle East are eyeing the aircraft. The Rafale, designed as a so-called omnirole fighter to replace seven aircraft types for the French military, is offered as a versatile solution for countries looking for alternatives to American and Russian jets.

However, recent orders could stretch Dassault's production capacity. In March, the French firm announced that it aims to deliver 20 of its Rafale fighter jets to customers in 2024 despite supply chain issues that have hampered production

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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