UAV Patroller Drones to Bolster Greek Armed Forces Surveillance from Rhodes and Chrysoupoli

The Greek Armed Forces are poised to significantly enhance their surveillance capabilities with the imminent arrival of four French-made Patroller UAVs, expected as early as this summer.

Costing approximately €55 million, this acquisition marks a strategic upgrade for the Army Air Force, with the drones set to be stationed at two key military airports: Maritsa on Rhodes and Chrysoupoli in Kavala. These bases will enable comprehensive monitoring of the Aegean Sea, Thrace, and Greece’s land and maritime borders with Turkey, according to sources from OnAlert.gr.

The decision to base the Patrollers in Rhodes and Chrysoupoli reflects careful operational planning by military leadership. From Rhodes, the UAVs will cover the southeastern Aegean, including the Kastellorizo complex, while Chrysoupoli will serve as a hub for overseeing the northern Aegean and the critical Thrace region along the Turkish frontier. Initially, Crete was considered for hosting two of the drones due to its strategic importance in the southeast Aegean, but Rhodes was ultimately selected to extend the operational range deeper into contested areas.

The Patroller UAVs, manufactured by Safran, promise to revolutionize the Armed Forces’ reconnaissance capabilities. Designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, these drones can detect and track small targets over vast distances, providing real-time data to operations centers. With a maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour and an operational altitude of up to 16,000 feet, the Patrollers are equipped to “sweep” large swathes of territory, including the archipelago, eastern Aegean, and northern border zones. Their external fuel tanks allow for flight durations of up to 15 hours, depending on speed, ensuring extensive coverage of areas critical to Greek sovereign rights.

Training is already underway in France for Army Air Force officers, operators, and technicians, ensuring the UAVs will be fully operational upon delivery. The Patrollers boast advanced features, including a payload capacity of 210 kilograms, which allows for the integration of cutting-edge sensors to process information from land, air, and sea. A standout advantage is their low radar signature, making them difficult to detect, especially during long-range, low-altitude missions.

While the four incoming Patrollers are unarmed, the military is exploring the possibility of acquiring additional units in an armed Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) configuration. These variants could feature laser-targeting systems for rockets or other munitions, further expanding their tactical utility.

With their deployment, the Patroller UAVs are set to become the “eyes” of the Greek Armed Forces, providing unparalleled situational awareness across all critical regions of national interest. This move underscores Greece’s commitment to bolstering its defense infrastructure amid ongoing regional tensions, particularly in the Aegean and Thrace.