In the last period of time, it is established that Turkey follows the tactic of mass violations and overflights in the Aegean, day and night, by armed F-16 fighters in large numbers, simultaneously with UAVs, E/P, ATR-72 of naval cooperation and surveillance aircraft CN- 235.
The above easily leads us to the conclusion that Turkey is testing the reflexes of our country and especially of our air force, while on the other hand it is conducting an electronic and visual mapping of the Aegean as well as an electronic mapping of our defense forces on our islands.
The data it collects with the above-mentioned aerial means, it attempts to link them with the data from its ground radars, its 4 flying radars, Boeing 737 AEW&C Peace Eagle and with information material from ships of its navy, thus attempting interoperability of its means, in order to maximize the performance of the blows against our country in time of operations.
At the same time, it attempts to create routine conditions in order to surprise us, but also fatigue in the personnel of our Armed Forces, as well as wear and tear on our weapons systems and materials.
Finally, the large formations of Turkish F-16 aircraft going out to the Aegean indicate practice in acquiring local air superiority.
In addition to the above, Turkey is trying to cause fatigue and familiarity in the International public opinion regarding Greek-Turkish, while with the overflights it conducts, in the context of psychological operations (PSEP), it is trying to lower the morale of our islanders.
The “phenomenon” of Turkish UAV overflights in Kinaros and Kandeleoussa
However, it causes a feeling that Turkish UAVs are constantly operating in the Deocan Islands complex, showing a particular preference for overflights over 2 of our islets, those of Kandeleoussa, which is located south of Kos and west of Nisyros, and that of Kinaros, which is east of Amorgos and west of Leros, which they “visit”. day and night.
Kinaros is inhabited by the legendary lady Rinio, while Kandeleousa hosts a lighthouse at its southwestern end.
Both islets are close to the rear boundary of the supposed arbitrary line that the Turks consider to be entitled to search and rescue, attempting to “break the continuity of our islands” in the Aegean in a north-south direction.
To the Turkish interest of overflights with UAVs, with obviously less frequency, belong to Trianisia, namely Mesonisi or Mezo, Plakida or Plakia and Stefania with an area of 0.416, 0.514 and 0.144 sq.km. respectively.
These are located southeast of Astypalaia, southwest of Kos – Nisyros and northwest of Karpathos.
From the above data, it follows that Turkey is focusing its UAVs on an imaginary rectangle that extends from the peninsula of Knidus (Datsa)-Nisyros-Kandeleoussa Trianisia-Syrna-Mikros and Megalo Afrade-East of Astypalaia-Kinaros-Mavra-Lebitha-Lipsi – Arkioi-Agathonisi-Didym on the coast of Asia Minor.
Kos-Pserimos-Farmakonissi-Kalolimnos-IMIA-Farmakonissi and Agathonissi are the closest islands to the Asia Minor coast in this rectangle we mentioned above, with Kalymnos-Leros and Patmos enclosed in it.
In our previous article, we have referred in detail to the disposition of the Turkish forces in peacetime on the coasts of Asia Minor.
Among them we point out the existence of the Bordo Bereli Special Forces Special Training Center, based in Aksaz (opposite N. Rhodes) and the Bordo Bereli Combat Search and Rescue Regiment based in Izmir and stationed in Guluk Bay, which incidentally is the bay opposite Farmakonissi and Kalolimnos.
The rectangle we mentioned above belongs to the wider area of Aydin-Aksaz-Antalya-Isparta-Egirdir which is of particular interest, since in addition to the Command of the Southern Complex based in Aksaz (opposite N. Rhodes), there are the Army Aviation School based in Isparta (Isparta) North of Kastelorizo, the Division-level Mountain Assault Training Center based in Egirdir NE and near Isparta (Isparta), the 11th TAXKD (-2) based in Denizli and the 11th TAXKD Headquarters based in Aydin (Aidinio), the Gendarmerie Division Level Area Command based in Aydin (Aidinio) and the Gendarmerie Aviation Company based in Aydin (Aidinio).
It is found that in the area in question there is an overconcentration of helicopters and Commandos at the same time, which is a clear indication that it is a broad base for conducting large-scale airborne operations against the Dodecanese Islands.
Our assessment is that Erdoğan will attempt to cluster our uninhabited and sparsely populated micro-islands with the aim of quickly capturing some of them in order to sit down at the negotiating table as losers, hoping to be restrained by the Allies so that the these military operations in a generalized military conflict.
In closing, we point out that the Kastelorizo Islands Complex (Megisti-Ro-Strongyli) should always be considered as a main or complementary objective for the Turks.
