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Greece and Israel conduct joint naval exercises in the Cretan Sea
The Hellenic Navy and the Israeli Navy conducted joint live-fire acceptance trials in the northern Cretan Sea on October 21, 2026. The exercise focused on testing Israeli-made SPIKE NLOS and SPIKE ER guided missiles, which are intended for integration into the Greek fleet.
Greek forces launched the missiles from a Machitis-class patrol vessel and a MARK V special operations craft. The trials successfully validated the weapon systems' performance, integration with shipboard procedures, and command-and-control links. Israeli naval units also participated by conducting their own guided-missile firings.
As part of the exercise, the decommissioned Elli-class frigate Bouboulina (F-463) was used as a target vessel. Following the missile strikes, the frigate was sunk by an SUT torpedo launched from a Greek Papanikolis-class submarine.
Senior military leaders attended the drills, including Greek Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis, Hellenic Navy Chief Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, and Israeli Navy Commander Vice Admiral Eyal Harel. The commanders met aboard the frigate Psara to discuss maritime security, navigation freedom, and strategic cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Entities
Bouboulina · Dimitrios Choupis · Dimitrios Houpis · Eyal Harel · Hellenic Navy · Israeli Navy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 15 SOURCES] The exercise took place in the northern Cretan Sea. epirusonline.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · veteranos.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · lawandorder.gr · +10 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] The joint exercise took place on October 21, 2026. epirusonline.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · veteranos.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · lawandorder.gr · +10 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The naval commanders met aboard the frigate Psara to discuss maritime security. epirusonline.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · veteranos.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · lawandorder.gr · +7 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] The decommissioned frigate Bouboulina (F-463) was used as a target vessel. epirusonline.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · veteranos.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · lawandorder.gr · +10 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] General Dimitrios Choupis attended the missile tests. epirusonline.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · veteranos.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · lawandorder.gr · +8 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The Bouboulina was sunk by an SUT torpedo launched from a submarine. epirusonline.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · veteranos.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · lawandorder.gr · +9 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] The exercise involved testing SPIKE NLOS and SPIKE ER guided missiles. epirusonline.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · veteranos.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · lawandorder.gr · +10 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Vice Admiral Eyal Harel attended the missile tests. epirusonline.gr · www.zarpanews.gr · veteranos.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · lawandorder.gr · +8 more