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Three engagements between Greek and Turkish F-16 fighter jets occurred over the Aegean Sea on Wednesday, for the first time in the last months.
Today, Turkish pilots did not change their course after being intercepted and identified by Greek pilots, leading to engagements. One of them took place west of Lesbos while two more took place between Lesbos and Chios.
A total of 12 Turkish military aircraft entered the Athens FIR without having previously submitted flight plans. Eight of them were armed.
Greek National Defence Minister Panos Beglitis will pay a one-day official visit to Cyprus on October 1, it was announced here on Wednesday.
According to the news website OnlyCy, the Israeli government reportedly asked the Cypriot permission to use the “Andreas Papandreou” airbase in Paphos in exchange for ensuring the air defense of the Republic and changing the military balance in the region.
The Israeli proposal is a significant upgrade of military relations between Israel and Cyprus, and certainly any decision taken by the Cypriot government will change the military balance in Cyprus.
From the early morning hours of Tuesday, the Turkish research vessel “Piri Reis” along with two Turkish warships, come and go from block No12, located at the sea area where on behalf of the Cypriot government the U.S. company “Noble Energy International” is carrying out research to locate gas.
“Piri Reis” is closely followed by the Turkish frigate “Giresun” and corvette “Bartin”.
At this time the boats are moving in the boundaries of block No12 engaging in a war of nerves.
Warships of the United States, Russia and Great Britain are also present in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. According to information at protothema.gr, the “Monterey” American frigate is sailing about 100 miles from the drilling platform, while a British and a Russian warship are also in the area.
From Greece it was reported that two F-16’s from 341M in N. Anchialos and two 330m from South Anchialos - "Keryanos" and a Mirage 2000-5 from 331M were called to action and were challenged with what defencenet just said a very heated tough situation. So much so, that the pilots did not stop until the fighters ran out of fuel.
The dogfight began when a Turkish fighter from Balıkesir attempted to hook a shot parameters missile AIM-120 at the Greek fighters. The outcome of the aerialdogfight is predictable. Ultimately the Greek air force was able to seize full control of Hellenic airspace, even though they were caught off guard by the Turkish fighters, and were capable enough of surprising the opposite side who did not expect this aggressive reaction.
Originally posted by Vitchilo
It's kind of a shock to me that Greece, being totally bankrupt, still has an air force.
Originally posted by paraphi
Don't panic!!!!
Turkish and Greek jets are frequently bumping into each other over the Aegean Sea, where both nations continue to argue ownership and rights. These fake dogfights are why Greek and Turkish pilots are quite well trained.
The Greek press will complain the Turks have infringed sovereign airspace, and the Turks will do the same. The story will go away and then reappear. Then (God forbid) someone unfamiliar with this larking around will put two and two together and report the workld is on the brink of WW£, just like (ahem) the OP.
Of course, on a serious note the Turks and Greeks have nearly taken the gloves off and missiles have been loosed on occasion, but I should not think either nations would go all the way and allow a serious incident to become uncontrolled.
I could not be arsed to create the links, but go to YouTube and look for Turkish/Greece dogfights. There is some amazing flying!
Regards