Some information on the presence of the Mirage F1 in the Greek Air Force
(Μερικές πληροφορίες για την παρουσία του Mirage F1 στην Πολεμική Αεροπορία)
sources:
https://news.matia.gr/2022-02/afieroma-sta-ellinika-mirage-f1-me-aformi-tin-ptosi-aeroskafous-stis-ipa/
https://www.defencenet.gr/amyna/aeroporia/900065_mirage-f1cg-i-istoria-toy-gallikoy-antikatoptrismoy-stin-pa?amp=
https://www.ptisidiastima.com/43-years-mirage-f1-haf/
In a context of changing internal politics and particular geopolitics, the USA refused to sell 36 Phantom F-4Es to Greece.
Reasons why this country turned to France and the aeronautical manufacturer Dassault to acquire new planes.
The agreement for the purchase of 40 Mirage F1C aircraft was signed on June 16, 1974... but Dassault could not deliver the aircraft gradually until 1983.
Greece needed the aircraft immediately and it was therefore decided, after the intervention of the French President, an accelerated delivery of the 40 Mirage F 1Cs ordered.
This was made possible by delaying deliveries to the French Air Force in favor of the Hellenic Air Force.
Convoyed by Greek pilots, the first two Mirage F.1CGs were received on August 5, 1975 (code 101 and 102) in Tanagra (fifty kilometers north of the capital, Athens). It is also this base where the first Rafale (Dassault) were received.
On August 6, 1975, seven other F1-CG landed, and thus joined the 342nd All Weather Squadron at the controls of Convair F-102A and TF-102A Delta Dagger.
The second Squadron equipped with Mirage F1-CG, was the 334th Air Force officially created in May 1977.
Deliveries were completed in early April 1978, with the arrival of Mirage F1-CG number 140 on Tanagra.
At the end of 1975 the Mirage F.1CGs also began to fly operational missions, the Mirage F1 was the Hellenic Air Force's main interceptor fighter over the Aegean Sea for more than 15 years.
The version delivered to Greece was armed with two internal 30mm cannons, but in 1976 the semi-active R530 medium-range guided missile was introduced, followed a year later by the infrared-guided R550 Magic.
At the same time, at the request of the Air Force General Staff, the American AIM-9 Sidewinder was added to the arsenal of the F1-CG (initially two AIM-9J Sidewinders on the wings then replaced by the AIM-9P-2 and from 1990, by the AIM-9P-4 version).
The Mirage F1 remained in service for 29 years, the last being retired in 2004.
Completely agree with grim_reaper68 Totalmente de acuerdo con grim_reaper68
