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Greece and France signed a 2.5-billion-euro ($3 billion) warplane deal on Monday as part of a plans to upgrade Greece's armed force in response to Turkish challenges in the eastern Mediterranean, France 24 reported. 

The deal will see Greece buying 18 Rafale jets, 12 of them used, made by French firm Dassault to bolster its forces during their regular mid-air skirmishes with Turkish pilots over disputed Aegean airspace.

As the source said, the move comes as the longtime regional rivals kick off a round of exploratory talks over their clashing interests in the Mediterranean, their first in nearly five years.

A Greek government spokesman insisted the talks were "not negotiations" and were "not binding".

France has strongly backed Greece in its standoff with Turkey over natural gas resources and naval influence in the waters off their respective coasts.

The warplane deal "sends a clear message in several directions", said Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos as he oversaw a signing ceremony with French counterpart Florence Parly in Athens.

Greek government spokesman Christos Tarantilis said delivery of the first six planes would begin in July.