Patriot battery transferred to Karpathos: Dendias and F-16s in Cyprus, frigates Kimon and Psara at sea

This decision was announced while Defense Minister Nikos Dendias was traveling to Cyprus and the joint Greek-Cyprus defense doctrine was activated after the two drones that Cyprus encountered on Monday at the British base in Akrotiri.

In this context, two pairs of F-16s are already in Cyprus, while the frigates Kimon and Psara are at sea, with the Navy ships expected to sail to Cyprus on Wednesday morning.

Together with Nikos Dendias, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence Staff, General Houpis, is also traveling to Cyprus, as the Minister of National Defence said yesterday, "I assured Mr. Palmas (ed. Minister of National Defence of Cyprus) that Greece, throughout the current crisis, will contribute in every possible way to the defense of the Republic of Cyprus, so that threats and illegal actions on its territory can be addressed."

The mission of the frigates "Kimon" and "Psara" as well as a pair of F-16s to Cyprus, after the second drone attack, acquires a clear operational footprint, aiming to strengthen the island's anti-aircraft and anti-drone defense.

Of particular importance is the presence of "Psara", which carries the Greek-developed "Kentaurus" electronic warfare system to counter unmanned threats, combined with the air defense capabilities of "Kimon" and the aerial coverage of the F-16s.

The capabilities of the frigate "Kimon"
The frigate "Kimon", a front-line unit of the FDI HN (Belharra) type of the Greek Navy, is the most modern anti-aircraft platform of the Greek fleet. It has 32 vertical launch cells for Aster 30 missiles, which provide long-range area air defense capability.

It is equipped with the Sea Fire radar with AESA technology, capable of simultaneously tracking multiple air targets, as well as an advanced combat system. This specific configuration allows "Kimon" to function as an anti-aircraft coverage hub over a wider radius, not only for the ship itself but also for the area of ​​operations.

Equipment:

- Vertical launchers for Aster 30 anti-aircraft missiles, with long-range area air defense capability.

- Sea Fire AESA radar with active electronically scanned array technology.

- SETIS combat system.

- Anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weapons, as well as a 76 mm cannon.

This particular platform is designed to provide air defense coverage over a wider radius, which is directly related to the mission of strengthening air defense in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The frigate "Psara" and the "Kentauros" system
The frigate "Psara" (MEKO 200HN class) is equipped with ESSM missiles for medium-range air defense, a CIWS Phalanx system for close protection and integrated surveillance radars.

Of particular importance, however, is the presence of the Greek-developed electronic warfare system "Kentaurus", which has been integrated into units of the Navy.

"Kentaurus", developed by the Hellenic Aerospace Industry, is a soft-kill jamming system designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It detects and jams the communication and guidance signals of drones, interrupting their operation without the use of fire.

In an environment where attacks with unmanned vehicles are a key feature of modern conflicts, the presence of this specific system acquires increased operational importance.

Equipment:

- "Kentaurus" is an electronic warfare system against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

- It detects, jams and neutralizes enemy drones through electronic interference.

- It has already been operationally tested in surface units of the Hellenic Navy.

The presence of this specific system acquires increased importance in the light of drone attacks, as it offers an immediate ability to deal with low-cost and low-trace threats, which are a key feature of modern conflicts.

The Role of the F-16 Viper
The two pairs of F-16s being deployed are Viper (Block 72) configurations, the most modern version of the type in the Hellenic Air Force.

The F-16 Vipers feature the AN/APG-83 AESA radar, which offers significantly increased target detection and tracking capabilities compared to earlier versions. The system allows for simultaneous engagement of multiple aerial threats and improved tactical situational awareness.

They are certified to use the AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles and the AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles, while they can perform interception and air patrol missions (Combat Air Patrol).

Their presence adds a mobile and flexible dimension to air defense, operating complementary to naval units and creating an additional layer of air cover.