Completed successfully international military exercise MEDUSA 13 the last day of which took place in the maritime area off Chania with the participation of warships, Special Forces aircraft and the Landing Exercise in Maleme and specifically in the Military Zone of the Closed Military Airport.
The exercise, which concerns the cooperation and cooperation of Military Corps, Special Departments of Special Operations between Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, France, Saudi Arabia, aims, according to representative Colonel Spyridon Aslani, who spoke to APE-MPE, to reinforce the issues defense capabilities, readiness, joint planning and actions of military operations.
The MEDOUSA 13 exercise, which is an aeronautical exercise, was attended on board Egypt’s LHD ship MISTRAL and the frigate KOUNDOURIOTIS, chiefs of arms and officers of the Armed Forces of the cooperating countries, international observers and officers of the Armed Forces of other countries. During the exercise, a free fall jump with national flags from a CH-47D helicopter was successfully carried out with the participation of ED – DEU personnel from Greece – Egypt – Cyprus – Saudi Arabia, an aerial infiltration with a free fall jump from a helicopter CH-47D by ED – DEE personnel from Greece – Egypt, infiltration of coastal reconnaissance team from the sea, with launch of rubber attack boats (HELO CASTING) from a CH-47D helicopter and force protection by EE/P AH – 64A/D (Force Protection) with the participation of ED – DEU Greece-Egypt-Saudi personnel, coastal reconnaissance (ED – DEU sections) and marine detachment on land with OH – 58D helicopter coverage, using L landing craft – CAT and LHD MISTRAL CTM, transmission of tactical situation report by the coastal reconnaissance team, Close Support Fires guidance/Aircraft Terminal Guidance through – JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) with the participation of ED – DEE personnel from Greece – Egypt and PA Aircraft from Greece – Egypt, providing protection against close combat attack helicopter fire (Close Combat Attack – CCA), in the air traffic section, directing assets by the Free Fall Penetration Team EE/P AH – 64A/DE/P OH – 58D, departure of 1st wave forces Participation of personnel from Greece (PZN Forces) – Egypt – Saudi Arabia Inflatable assault boats RHIB ships (Egypt) with the participation of personnel from Greece ( PZN Forces) – Egypt – Saudi Arabia and departure of 2nd wave forces, air movement to the target with a CH-47D helicopter and rapid deployment of the Special Operations Department with Fast Rope, Force Protection with the participation of personnel ED – DEE Greece – Egypt EE/P AH – 64A/DE/P OH – 58D, disengagement of sections ED – DEE (Unhooting to LHD MISTRAL and Greek Tankers) E/PS – 70B RHIB Vessels (Egypt and Greece), departure from forces of the 3rd wave with departure of wheeled vehicles HMMWVs, and participation of personnel from Greece (PZN Forces) – Saudi Arabia using landing craft L – CAT and CTM from LHD MISTRAL, passage of Surface Units, passage of aircraft and passage of helicopters.
At the same time, the exercise included firing from warships in the Aegean, while there was continuous information on the flow of forces and the outcome of operations, which was characterized as successful.
As representative Colonel Mr. Aslanis explained to APE-MBE: “This is the 13th year of the MEDUSA interstate exercise with the participating countries Greece, Cyprus, France, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, having activated aeronautical forces, that is, aviation and navy as well as special operations forces. The objective of MEDUSA is to strengthen the cooperation and interoperability of the specific military forces of these countries, so that common military operational techniques and procedures relating to operations exist and are strengthened. military, each state has its own commander of its operations force, but an operational commander is also designated who is responsible for coordinating the commanders of all states. The administration always changes, but because MEDUSA is maintained alternately to this day. Greek territory or in Egypt, for this reason the administrators are Greeks or Egyptians”.
According to the Colonel, the accident rate in conducting this military exercise over the years is zero, given the high level of preparation of the participants but also “…because before the final phase of an exercise there are always tests, so to reduce the possibility of accidents ». In fact, with regard to the MEDUSA assessment, as he told APE-MPE “Each country makes its own operational assessment, draws its own data and conclusions, but at the same time we exchange within the clear scope of classification, as some questions and data remain at a purely national level, opinion and knowledge between countries’.
Regarding Greece’s position and its military readiness in terms of classification, the representative said that: “Because this information is confidential I do not have to respond and should not, however, I will emphasize the following: That we have reached the 13th execution of the specific exercise and with the participation of specific countries, it probably proves that we are doing something right”.
The dominant message after the successful conduct of Exercise MEDUSA 13, is that from all directions, sides, countries, it must be understood that there is Security and Stability in the Maritime Area, Greece has strong alliances, defends and respects International Law and the Law of the Sea.
The “N” in the Medusa 13 aeronautical exercise
The Navy participated in the Medusa 13 aeronautical exercise in Chania. Egypt, Cyprus, France and Saudi Arabia participate.
H #Naftemporiki at the Medusa 13 aeronautical exercise in Chania. Egypt, Cyprus, France and Saudi Arabia participate. #Crete #Chania #Medusa13 pic.twitter.com/6PR1LtmSlQ
-naftemporiki.gr (@naftemporikigr) October 19, 2024
With information from Nautemporiki, AMPE