Hellenic Air Force

The grand military parade marked the conclusion of today’s celebrations for the triple commemoration of Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of Thessaloniki, the anniversary of Thessaloniki’s liberation, and the national anniversary of October 28, 1940.

With the grand military parade, before President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the events for the triple celebration of the patron saint St. Demetrius, the anniversary of the liberation of Thessaloniki and the national anniversary of October 28, 1940.

The Hellenic National Defense General Staff has documented 106 incidents of Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) violations by Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles and maritime patrol aircraft since August.

Greece has declined a request from the Baltic nations - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - to participate in air patrols over their airspace, citing its current obligations in the Balkans.

The Baltic countries, which do not have fighters of their own, had asked Greece to deploy F-16 jets to help safeguard their skies as part of a NATO air-policing mission.

Since Monday, September 30, NATO’s “air heartbeat” has been centered at the 117th Combat Wing of the Hellenic Air Force. For the first time in Europe, the NATO exercise codenamed “Ramstein Flag 24” took place at the Andravida Air Base.

A C-130 military transport plane from the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) landed at Elefsina Air Base shortly after 4 p.m., following a successful evacuation mission of Greek and Cypriot citizens from Lebanon. 

Earlier, the aircraft had safely evacuated 22 Greek and 38 Cypriot nationals from Beirut. 

The C-130 aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force, which was in Lebanon to evacuate Greek and Cypriot nationals, has entered the Nicosia FIR.

Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said in a post on X that following “a request by the Defence Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Vassilis Palme, in a telephone conversation”, the Greek Air Force “will provide a C-130 transport aircraft for the rescue of Cypriot nationals from Lebanon.”

From 30 September to 11 October 2024, the “Ramstein Flag 24” exercise will take place at Andravida Air Base, with the participation of the majority of NATO Allies.

The exercise will include more than 140 4th and 5th generation warplanes, including F-35, F-16V, Rafale, and others, as well as support aircraft from 13 Allies.

The Greek F-35 program is on track, with the signing of the contract between Lockheed Martin and the US government for the start of production expected to take place next, J.R. McDonald, Lockheed Martin's Vice President for F-35 Business Development, told Kathimerini.