The Greek Armed Forces are entering the era of “flying spies” – The Israeli HERONs that are already operating in the Aegean, the American MQ-9s and the French Patrollers – Why the GEETHA Chief selects the Larissa Base as a “nest” of the Greek UAV’s.
We have pointed out several times that Turkey, in order to achieve its goals, uses every suitable means, from the exercise of psychological pressure, blackmail, intimidation and the threat of war, to the brute use of force. In fact, in the last two years, the Erdogan regime has been promoting, among other things, new tactics of hybrid warfare in order to achieve its goals.
He tried it unsuccessfully in March 2020 in Evros, where with a siege battering ram of impoverished immigrants he attempted to invade Greece and create destabilizing conditions at the border. The immediate, dynamic and decisive response he received from the Greek Police and the Armed Forces overturned the plans of the regime, which nevertheless implemented new tactics of provocations.
One of them was the appearance of drones over the border line or even through it, over Greek territory in Evros. The reaction of the Greek forces was of course immediate, with some of the Turkish helicopters never returning to their operator.
But also in the eastern Aegean, every day now the Turks send unmanned aircraft to violate the Greek airspace and overflights. In fact, drones have been recorded flying from the Turkish coast to the uninhabited islands of Greece, while fishermen from our islands have noticed that some of them are even “taken off” by commercial ships sailing in the Aegean.
Despite the fact that Turkish drones are an easy target for any ground and aerial weapon system of our country, since their speed is very low, the Greek side is not complacent and is looking for solutions that will immediately and effectively prevent the entry of Turkish UAV’s.
Greek air defense has multiple reaction tiers and can detect any kind of threat, especially intruders with such low speed. However, the Chief of the GEETHA, General Konstantinos Floros, has realized for a long time that the Armed Forces must move at a faster rate in the armament enhancement with unmanned weapon systems.
The “green cap” General has drawn up plans to effectively stop the threat of Turkish drones, without necessarily needing to shoot them down, while he has constant contacts to strengthen our country with the most advanced UAV’s, which will not only fly and record, but they will also bring weapons.
Since the Spring of 2021, the Armed Forces have placed in their quiver the extremely capable Israeli UAV’s HERON, which are under the newly established Interbranch Unit Medium Altitude – Long Endurance UAV (MALE UAV), which is under the GEETHA through the GEA and is based in the 135th Battle Group in Skyros. They are fully integrated into operational missions and provide continuous insight and data both at their base in Skyros and mainly at the National Operations Center, as well as the Coast Guard and the Greek Armed Forces.
The Chief of GEETHA, General Konstantinos Floros with the Chief of GEA, Vice Admiral Themistocles Bourolias at the 135th Battle Command in Skyros, next to a HERON UAV
Chief GEETHA’s plan, however, does not stop at the two HERONs. The program for the acquisition of three MQ-9 Reaper type UAVs, which can not only monitor the “enemy” by transmitting the image of the field to the operations centers in real time, but also participate in operations has already been submitted to the Equipment Committee of the Parliament search and rescue, having the ability to remain without refueling in the air for up to 48 hours and a radius of action up to Cyprus. Also, the fact that they fly at a height of even 40,000 feet, makes them invulnerable to enemy weapons.
At the same time, GEETHA and GES are in advanced contacts with the French for the acquisition of unmanned UAV Patrollers, and indeed in a configuration capable of carrying weapons. Our country is interested in purchasing 4 + 4 Patroller systems which are capable of flying at 20,000 feet for about 30 hours.
However, General Floros seems to have gone a step further, having formulated a plan for the creation of an Air Base that will host only unmanned aircraft. Information from Newsbomb.gr states that the 110th Combat Wing in Larissa is at the top of the list of the Chief of GHETHA. In fact, a delegation of the military leadership has carried out an autopsy and has come to the conclusion that Larissa meets all the necessary conditions to become the “nest” of Greek UAV’s.
As for the number of UAV’s that the Armed Forces intend to put in their quiver, about 20, with our country now officially entering the era of ultra-modern “flying spies”.
