Mirage 2000-5 pair to replace Patriot missiles in Karpathos

The Patriot missile battery that had been deployed in Karpathos to protect NATO’s southeastern flank from a potential ballistic threat is expected to be replaced by a pair of Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft, which will be relocated to the island.

The decision was made in order to avoid a possible operational gap, while work is currently underway at Karpathos airport so that it can support the long-term deployment of Hellenic Air Force fighter jets.

At the same time, according to the same sources, it has been decided that the four F-16s stationed in Paphos at the beginning of the military crisis in the Persian Gulf will be withdrawn from Cyprus. They will also be replaced by pairs of Hellenic Air Force aircraft to cover the operational gap.

It is noted that government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis earlier described the withdrawal of the Patriot systems as an “operational decision.”

“I am tired of reading reports about appeasement,” he said χαρακτηρισically, noting that the decision was taken following “an operational assessment and the passage of a significant period of time,” based on a recommendation by the Ministry of National Defence.

As he underlined, “it was operationally determined, after a long period of time, that the Patriots had to return following a relevant decision made yesterday.”

Referring to Cyprus, Mr Marinakis noted that it was “an entirely different case,” explaining that the deployment there was the result of an initiative by the Greek government, in coordination with the Republic of Cyprus and following communication between the Greek Prime Minister and the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

“Here we are referring to Karpathos and Didymoteicho,” he clarified, rejecting any connection to developments in Turkey. At the same time, he stressed that “this is neither a message nor a gesture of goodwill, not in the slightest,” emphasizing that the decision “has absolutely nothing to do with any developments in Turkey.”

“Anyone talking about appeasement is completely out of touch with reality,” he said, reiterating that this was a purely operational decision proposed by the Ministry of Defence in the context of a military exercise.