Defense minister and NATO SG watch exercise

Speaking during his visit to Athens, Stoltenberg said the trans-Atlantic military alliance "remains vigilant and ready to respond" referring to this year's tripling of Russian military flights along NATO's eastern borders.

"We need to keep our forces ready, therefore we are investing in high readiness, new capabilities," Stoltenberg told a press conference. "We are ... increasing air policing as an answer to the increased air activities we are seeing from Russia."

In Athens, Stoltenberg also urged Russia to remove its forces from Ukraine and warned against plans by pro-Russian separatists to hold local elections in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies having forces in Ukraine.

The combined forces involved all three branches of the Armed Forces.

The forces involved included four frigates, 8 missile craft, 4 gunboats, 5 Aegean Hawk naval helicopters, Apache attack helicopters of the Army Aviation, Chinook transport helicopters and NH-90 Army Aviation and Mirage- 2000 and F-16 Air fighters, and Super Puma helicopters of the Air Force and sections of special forces of the navy, army, and coast guard.

The object of the exercise

Exercise Pyrpolitis was ordered by joint chief of staff General M. Kostarakis in the early hours of 30 October 2014. The exerciseinvolved Force "Delta" conducting operations to deter the takeover of an Aegean islet and in case of failure, the performance of amphibious operations to recapture it, in order to ensure the territorial integrity of the country.

The Minister of National Defence and the NATO Secretary General arrived by helicopter which landed on the frigate Salamis, from where they watched the exercise.