Greece Furious Over France’s Approval of METEOR BVR Air-to-Air Missile Sale to Türkiye

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Greece has reportedly expressed strong displeasure towards France over claims that Paris has granted Türkiye permission to acquire Beyond Visual Range (BVR)  air-to-air Meteor missiles.

These missiles are intended for the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets Türkiye is set to procure.

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias has summoned the French Ambassador to Greece, Laurence Auer, to lodge a formal protest and demand clarification on reports regarding the potential sale of Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Meteor missiles to Türkiye.

“I have conveyed to the French Ambassador Greece’s strong opposition to this potential sale, which contradicts the close strategic relations that Greece and France have maintained until now,” Dendias stated on the social media platform X.

The diplomatic strain between Greece and France has emerged despite their strong defence partnership.

Dendias referred to the provisions of the 2021 Greece-France Defence Agreement, which stipulates that “Greece and France shall consult at all levels to form a common understanding on any significant decision affecting shared defence interests, as well as coordinate joint actions when necessary.”

Under the bilateral defence agreement signed in September 2021, Greece and France pledged mutual military support in the event that either nation is attacked by a third party.

The agreement has facilitated significant Greek arms acquisitions, including 24 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation and French-made warships.

The procurement of Rafale jets also included the Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles.

Greece fears that Türkiye’s acquisition of Meteor missiles for its future Eurofighter Typhoon fleet could erode its aerial superiority over Ankara, which was bolstered by the Rafale acquisition.

The proposed sale of 40 state-of-the-art Eurofighter Typhoon jets, equipped with Meteor missiles, to Türkiye has further strained relations between Britain, France, and Greece.

Reports indicate that Türkiye insisted on acquiring the Meteor missiles as a prerequisite for purchasing the Eurofighter Typhoons—a demand that now appears to have been met.

Türkiye is set to acquire the latest variant of the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Tranche 4.

Equipped with the AESA CAPTOR-E radar, the Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 4 is considered one of Europe’s most advanced fighter jets, capable of serving well into 2060.

Developed by the pan-European defence company MBDA, the Meteor missile integrates seamlessly with various fighter aircraft, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, F-35 Lightning II (future integration), and KF-21 Boramae (future integration).

The Meteor’s outstanding performance is attributed to its revolutionary propulsion system.

Unlike conventional air-to-air missiles that rely on rocket propulsion, the Meteor is powered by a solid-fuel ramjet engine.

This cutting-edge technology enables the missile to maintain supersonic speeds—exceeding Mach 4—throughout its flight, providing a decisive advantage over conventional missiles, which decelerate as they approach their target.

Technical Specifications of the Meteor BVRAAM

• Manufacturer: MBDA (Pan-European defence company)

• Role: Long-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM)

• Guidance System: Active radar guidance with inertial mid-course navigation and real-time data link updates

• Propulsion: Variable-flow ramjet with solid fuel

• Speed: Exceeds Mach 4 (~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 Aircraft:

  • Eurofighter Typhoon

  • Dassault Rafale

  • Saab JAS 39 Gripen

  • F-35 Lightning II (future integration)

  • KF-21 Boramae (future integration)

Key Features of the Meteor BVRAAM

• Ramjet propulsion enables sustained high-speed flight throughout the mission.

• Significantly larger “no-escape zone” compared to conventional air-to-air missiles.

• Network-enabled data link allows real-time target updates.

• Designed for high survivability and precision strikes in complex combat environments.

Greece remains deeply concerned about Türkiye’s acquisition of the Meteor missile, fearing it could disrupt the balance of air power in the region.

The unfolding situation has heightened tensions among NATO allies and could have broader implications for regional security dynamics.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA