Major aeronautical exercise | The anti-aircraft means of the Cypriot Air Defence are being tested in real conditions

Defence Redefined

25/08/2020

The answer to the Turkish actions in the eastern Mediterranean is given by the Cyprus-France and Greece aeronautical exercise which will be held west of Cyprus as of tomorrow, August 26th, until Friday, August 28th.

According to information from the newspaper “KATHIMERINI”, the air base “Andreas Papandreou” in Paphos will become, for the first time, the operational center of major military activities for training purposes in the coming days. 

Also read: Greece’s anti-NAVTEX in response to the extension of the Turkish one

According to information cited by the publication, fighter jets of France and Greece will use the Paphos air base from which they will depart taking part in the exercise scenarios.

France will be represented in the exercise by three French Rafale aircraft and Greece by three F-16s. The French fighters are already in Paphos, while 2 Greek F-16 fighters are expected, which will remain in Cyprus until next Friday.

The exercise will be attended by French naval forces, including the frigate Lafayette, which has been in the area for a long time, as well as Greek warships.

On the part of Cyprus, participation in the major aeronautical exercise was kept out of the limelight. Therefore, the National Guard will participate in the exercise with naval and air means of the National Guard as well as with the activation of its anti-aircraft umbrella. According to the publication, the anti-aircraft means of the Cypriot Air Defence will be tested in real conditions, something that has so far happened in exercises with Israeli fighters only.

Also read: French Rafale Fighter Aircraft in Paphos | Flights over Cyprus in the coming days

In addition, the Cyprus-France and Greece aeronautical exercise is related to the exercise of the Greek naval forces announced in the area between Rhodes-Karpathos and south of Kastelorizo, with the eastern point of the occupied area being adjacent to the “tri-national” point of the Cypriot and Egyptian EEZ west of Cyprus.

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