Greece, France lock horns over sale of Meteor missiles to Türkiye PHOTO

Greece is actively attempting to block the sale of Meteor missiles to Türkiye as part of an effort to prevent the Turkish Air Force from gaining a competitive advantage over Greece’s military.

According to reports from SavunmaSanayi on social media, Greece has raised concerns over the export of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft equipped with Meteor missiles to Türkiye, per Caliber.Az. 

La Tribune: İngiltere'nin, Türkiye'ye Eurofighter Typhoon savaş uçaklarının yanında Meteor Hava Hava Füzesi'ni tedarik etmek istemesi Yunanistan'ın tepkisini çekti.

Yunanistan, Fransa'dan Türkiye'ye Meteor Füzesi satışına engel olmasını istedi.

Eğer Türkiye Meteor Füzelerine… pic.twitter.com/uQMqEDX3uU

— SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) January 17, 2025

The deal, which is being facilitated by London and BAE Systems, would enable Türkiye to enhance its air capabilities, allowing it to challenge the Greek Rafale fighter jets that are already equipped with the same advanced missiles.

The delivery has sparked a backlash from Greece, which recently acquired 24 Rafale aircraft from France. Athens, which signed a strategic partnership agreement with Paris in 2021, is now pressuring France to block the sale of the Meteor missiles to Türkiye. France, which co-developed the missile alongside England, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, retains a degree of influence over the missile's export. However, it is reported that England has successfully persuaded France to proceed with the missile sale to Türkiye.

Meteor, a state-of-the-art air-to-air missile, has remarkable specifications, including speeds over Mach 4 and a range exceeding 100 kilometres. The missile's unique solid-fueled, direct-flow air-to-air jet engine provides consistent thrust, while its advanced target-tracking capabilities make it a significant asset in modern aerial combat.

These attributes of the Meteor missile will be crucial in enhancing Türkiye's air power, giving its Air Force a potent edge. In parallel, Türkiye is working on its own domestically developed air-to-air missile, which is expected to surpass the Meteor in capabilities.

By Tamilla Hasanova