On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, the Bilateral Interbranch Search-Rescue exercise called “EAGLE” took place in the maritime area between Rhodes and Kastellorizos, with the participation of forces from Greece and Cyprus.
The “AETOS” exercise is a free-play Post-Troop Tactical Exercise (TAMS), and is part of the overall planning of the Greek Armed Forces regarding the international cooperation of the Hellenic Armed Forces and the operational training actions of the 2 Countries to increase the level of operational readiness, interoperability and the understanding of the units involved in Search-Rescue (R-R) missions.
The Hellenic Armed Forces participated with the Gunboat (R/F) NIKIFOROS of the Navy, 1 Helicopter (R/P) Super Puma AS-332 of the Air Force and 1 floating vessel of the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard (LS-ELAKT), while the National Guard participated with 1 E/P AW 139.
The purpose of the exercise was to test and evaluate the response readiness of the E-D system in the event of an air accident within the Athens FIR, which also constitutes the E-D area of ​​responsibility of Greece, as well as to improve the effectiveness of the cooperation of the Unified Investigation Coordination Center and Rescue (E.K.S.E.D.) of the LS-EL.AKT with the Center for Coordination of Search and Rescue (KSED) of Cyprus, and their actions in accordance with the applicable International Conventions and the national legislation of 2 Countries.
The exercise was based on a fictitious scenario, according to which a Greek civilian aircraft performed a ground landing within the limits of the Athens FIR, following a failure of its engines. The E-D system of Greece and Cyprus was immediately activated and identification, rescue – collection was carried out using a hoist, and the rescued personnel were transported to Rhodes.
