NEWS

On Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis, representing the Government and the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Constantinos Floros, a demonstration of the operational capabilities of Special Operations Forces was held, under the Special Warfare Command, in the area of ​​Pachi Megaron.

The multiple operational capabilities of the participating Special Operations Forces – Special Forces were demonstrated, under the Special Warfare Command, acting in “union” in a scenario of multiple threats both on land and at sea.

Upon completion of the demonstration and after thanking the attendees for their presence, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff referred to the new era for the Greek Special Operations Forces – Special Forces, emphasizing that “one of the main goals of the reorganization was, first and foremost, INTEROPERABILITY in its greatest extent and its benefits in times of peace, but also of war. I do not want to exaggerate, but I could refer to it as an end in itself.”

He then praised the impeccable planning and execution of the operational training – demonstration of the Special Operations which was held “with high precision”, as he put it, while in his address to the personnel, he warmly congratulated all those who participated in it in different ways, emphasizing “… the absolute harmony among people, means and machines, all having the common goal of fulfilling the mission.” (Click here for the speech)

Also read: CHOD visit to Units of the newly-established Special Warfare Command, the Army Aviation and the UDC – Photos

The following were performed during the demonstration:

• Static-line jump on land and at sea.
• Use of closed circuit devices by frogmen.
• JTAC personnel’s execution of guided fire of F-16s and APACHE using a LASER designator.
• Movement in air via the FAST ROPE method.
• Movement in air and debarkation of FLYER combat vehicles and TT engines from CH 47 D.
• Air refuelling from a C-130 aircraft via the CDS method.
• Use of ZUBR type air-cushioned landing craft for the Navy and personnel disembarkment using boats – jet ski.
• Maritime Interdiction Operation, use of Special Operations MK – V boats and FAST ROPE method by AEGEAN HAWK.
• Evacuation of the injured using Transport Helicopter NH-90 (MEDEVAC configuration).
• Transport of immobilized HUMMER vehicle from CH-47D aircraft as external cargo.
• Unit insertion via the HELO CASTING method and its withdrawal using the same technique.
• Personnel demobilization from the sea using the SPIES method with a CH-47D aircraft.
• Recapture of A / D using HUMMER – VBL combat vehicles.
• Islet recapture by Amphibious Operations Squadrons.

Staff from all the Units of the Special Warfare Command, i.e. Paratroopers, Marines, Amphibious Operations Squadron, the Naval Special Operations Command, the Search and Rescue Squadron, the Special Air Operations Command, the 865th Air Refuelling Battalion participated along with their means from all 3 Special Forces branches, namely 2 F-16s, 2 AH-64, 2 UH-1H, 1 NH-90, 3 CH 47D, 1 AEGEAN HAWK, 1 ZUBR, 2 MK-V Special Operations Boats, a number of boats, Jet Ski, HUMMER – VBL type Combat Vehicles and TT engines.

Also read: Hellenic National Defence General Staff | First official appearance of “MARK V” Special Operations Crafts – Photos & VIDEO

The event was attended by:

• The Ambassadors of Albania to Athens, Mr. Luela Hajdaraga, of the Republic of Northern Macedonia, Mr. Lija Boshkavska, of the USA, Mr. Geoffrey R. Pyatt and of Cyprus, Kyriakos Kenevezos.
• The Mayor of Megara, Lieutenant General (ret.) Mr. Grigorios Stamoulis.
• The Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Air Marshal Georgios Blioumis, the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Charalambos Lalousis, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis.
• The Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Theodoros Kliaris and the Chief of the Hellenic Fire Service, Lieutenant General Stefanos Kolokouris.
• The Defence Attachés of Albania, Bulgaria, the USA and Romania.
• The General Director of the Directorate of Civil Defence and International Relations, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos.
• The Commander of the Special Warfare Command, Lieutenant General George Tsitsikostas.
• The Chief of Staff of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Air Marshal George Fasoulas.
• The Commander of the 1st Infantry Division, Major General Dimitrios Vounisios and the Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command, Major General Prokopios Mavraganis.
• The Commander of the Police Academy, Major General Emmanouil Daskalakis.
• The SOF Commanders of Bulgaria, Major General Iavor Antonov Mateev, of Romania Major General Dacian Tiberiu Serban, of Montenegro Lieutenant Colonel Ilija Duricanin and of the Republic of Northern Macedonia Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Zarioski.
• The US Special Operations Liaison Officer in Greece, Lieutenant Commander Nikolaos Sidiropoulos as a representative of the USSOCOM Commander.
• Mr. Vassilios Pateras, a founding member of AXION HELLAS.
• The former International basketball players Mr. Nikolaos Filippou and Mr. Dimitrios Diamantidis.
• During the event, all appropriate measures to prevent and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic were observed.

Also read: Special Warfare Command – The new structure of the Special Forces