The Joint Bilateral Exercise “MEDOUSA 12” between Greece and Egypt is taking place from Saturday 19 to Friday 25 November 2022. Cyprus, the USA, and Saudi Arabia are participating in this exercise with their personnel and assets.

According to the announcement of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff  (HNDGS), the exercise has been taking place since 2015 alternately between the 2 countries, and this year, it is conducted in the broader area of ​​Alexandria, Egypt. France, Germany, India, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Congo, Morocco, Bahrain, Romania, and Serbia have been invited to participate as observers.

The successful conduct of the exercise has aroused the interest of friends, partners, and allies who increase their participation every year, making it one of the most important joint exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Exercise “MEDOUSA 12” aims to strengthen the cooperation of the Armed Forces of the participating countries as well as to conduct operational training at a joint level and in a multi-threat environment, strengthening the role played by Greece and Egypt in the wider Mediterranean region, the Middle East and North Africa as pillars of stability and security.

The “MEDOUSA” exercises are part of the overall planning of the HNDGS in terms of the international cooperation of the Armed Forces and the Military Cooperation Program of Greece and Egypt for 2022. The said exercises further deepen the excellent and multi-level relations between the 2 countries, something that was also confirmed during the recent official visit of the Chief of Staff, General Constantinos Floros, to Egypt at the invitation of the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Osama Roshdy Askar.

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The Hellenic Armed Forces are participating with personnel and assets from all three Branches and the newly-established Special Warfare Command of the HNDGS, as follows:

• 4 F-16 aircraft
• 4 AH-64 attack helicopters
• 2 CH-47D helicopters
• 2 frigates (ELLI and NAVARINON) with their organic helicopters
• 1 landing ship tank (CHIOS)
• 1 submarine (KATSONIS)
• 10 inflatable boats
• 4 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs)
• 1 Underwater Demolition Team of the Underwater Demolition Command
• 1 Marines Squadron from the 32nd Marines Brigade
• 1 Team of Paratroopers from the Special Paratroopers Detachment.

The Egyptian Armed Forces participate with:

• 18 multi-role aircraft
• 6 helicopters
• 1 Mistral LHD amphibious assault ship
• 1 frigate
• 1 submarine
• 2 corvettes
• 2 Special Operations RHIBs (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats)
• 4 Zodiac Mk V rubber boats
• 8 HMMWVs
• 1 Special Forces Squadron of the Ground Forces
• 1 Special Forces Unit of the Navy
• 1 Unit of Paratroopers
• 1 Mechanized Infantry Opposing Force (OPFOR).

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The Armed Forces of Cyprus are participating with:

• 1 AW-139 aircraft
• 1 General Support Ship
• 1 Underwater Demolition Unit
• 1 Unit of Special Forces – Paratroopers.

The Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia participate with:

• 1 corvette with its organic helicopter
• 1 Unit of Special Operations Forces (SOF)
• 1 Unit of Marines.

The US Armed Forces participate with 1 Unit of Marines.

The Distinguished Visitors Day (DVDay) will take place on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. During this ceremony, guests will have the opportunity to witness the execution of operational scenarios including static line jumps and paratroopers’ freefall from helicopters, fast rope descents, boarding a warship, amphibious operations on the “EL OMAYED” coast as well as virtual air strikes by fighter aircraft.

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