France Asserts It Will Not Block METEOR Missile Sale to Türkiye
Greece is reportedly furious with France, accusing the European power of granting Türkiye approval to acquire Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles for use on the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets that Ankara is set to procure.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) –In a bold and unwavering stance, France has made it clear that it will not intervene in the sale of long-range METEOR air-to-air missiles to Türkiye, outright rejecting Greece’s demands to halt the deal with its longstanding rival.
In a decisive declaration before Parliament, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu left no room for doubt, asserting that Paris holds no power over the deal and will not stand in its way.
“While it is true that Greece has urged France to prevent the sale of METEOR missiles to Türkiye, this matter falls beyond the jurisdiction of President Emmanuel Macron’s government,” Lecornu stated.
“We do not control British arms exports. Are we involved in this matter? No. We are not the ones selling the platform (METEOR) to Türkiye,” he added.
Reaffirming France’s position, Lecornu asserted, “France is always on the right side—on the side of the French people.”
Lecornu doubled down on France’s stance, declaring that diplomacy, dialogue, and negotiation are the only paths forward—strongly implying that Greece has no choice but to accept Türkiye’s acquisition of the METEOR missile.
Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet with “METEOR” long range air-to-air missile
Athens, however, is seething.
Reports suggest that Greece is outraged over France’s position, accusing Paris of greenlighting Türkiye’s purchase of METEOR missiles for its planned fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
In a dramatic response, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias took swift action, summoning French Ambassador to Greece, Laurence Auer, and demanding an explanation regarding reports confirming the sale of beyond-visual-range (BVR) METEOR missiles to its long-standing adversary.
“I have conveyed to the French Ambassador Greece’s strong opposition to this possible sale, which contradicts the strategic relationship that Greece and France have enjoyed until now,” Dendias wrote on social media platform X.
Athens is on high alert, fearing that Türkiye’s acquisition of METEOR-equipped Eurofighter Typhoons could shatter its hard-won air dominance—an edge it currently holds over Ankara, thanks to its fleet of French-made Rafale fighter jets.
The imminent sale of 40 cutting-edge Eurofighter Typhoons, armed with the METEOR long-range air-to-air missile, has set off alarm bells across the region, deepening tensions between the UK, France, and Greece over the shifting balance of power.
“METEOR BVR”
Reports suggest that Türkiye made the METEOR missile a non-negotiable condition for its purchase of the Eurofighter Typhoon—a demand that now seems to have been granted.
Türkiye is poised to receive the latest Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 4, a next-generation war machine fitted with the AESA CAPTOR-E radar, making it one of the most sophisticated fighter jets in Europe—aerial dominance guaranteed until at least 2060.
At the heart of this escalating standoff is the METEOR missile—widely hailed as the deadliest air-to-air weapon in the world.
Outclassing even the U.S.-made AIM-120 AMRAAM, this beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) is designed for long-range precision strikes, relentless target pursuit, and unmatched survivability in high-threat environments.
Unlike conventional missiles that lose momentum near their target, the METEOR’s revolutionary ramjet propulsion system allows it to maintain blistering speeds of over Mach 4 throughout its flight, delivering an inescapable death blow to enemy aircraft—long before they even see it coming.
Guidance System: Active radar homing with inertial mid-course guidance and data link updates
Propulsion: Variable-flow ducted ramjet with solid fuel
Speed: Over Mach 4 (approximately 4,900 km/h)
Range: Over 100 km (classified; estimated up to 200 km)
Length:3.65 meters
Diameter:178 mm
Weight: Approximately 190 kg
Warhead: High-explosive fragmentation with intelligent impact and proximity fuzes
Compatible Fighter Platforms:
Eurofighter Typhoon
Dassault Rafale
Saab JAS 39 Gripen
F-35 Lightning II (future integration)
KF-21 Boramae (future integration)
Key Features of the Meteor Missile:
Ramjet propulsion enables sustained high-speed flight throughout its engagement.
No-escape zone significantly larger than conventional missiles.
Network-enabled data link allows real-time target updates.
Designed for superior survivability and precision targeting in highly contested airspaces.
As tensions rise over Türkiye’s METEOR acquisition, France’s refusal to block the sale underscores Paris’ commitment to its defense export policies, despite mounting pressure from Athens.
For Greece, the shifting balance of airpower in the Aegean is now a looming reality.
