# Turkey-Greece maritime and airspace tensions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-greece-maritime-and-airspace-tensions
> Updated: 2026-09-24T20:55:00.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 3.

Turkey initiated the Denizkurdu-I/2026 (Sea Wolf) military exercise, a large-scale operation involving approximately 100 ships, 50 aircraft, and 14,000 personnel across the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean. The drills include live ammunition and the testing of the Bayraktar TB3 drone for anti-submarine warfare.

The exercise has coincided with heightened tensions between Greece and Turkey. The Hellenic National Defence General Staff reported multiple violations of the Athens Flight Information Region and Greek national airspace by Turkish aircraft and UAVs. Furthermore, Greek authorities have claimed that unilateral Turkish military air corridors overlap with Greek national airspace near several islands.

As the exercise progressed, the Turkish Naval Forces emphasized a focus on integrating manned and unmanned systems. During the period of September 20 to 25, several technological milestones were demonstrated. The PİRANA Kamikaze Unmanned Surface Vehicle, developed by Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE), successfully destroyed a surface target. MKE describes the PİRANA as a strike-capable unmanned vessel with a reported maximum speed exceeding 50 knots and a range of over 200 nautical miles.

Additionally, the BAYKAR-produced Vertical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (DİHA) completed its first takeoff from the TCG Anadolu. The exercise also involved participation from SAT and SAS teams, as well as various land, air, and coast guard commands.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-24: Denizkurdu-I/2026 exercises feature PİRANA and DİHA demonstrations

Turkey's Denizkurdu-I/2026 naval exercises featured the successful target destruction by MKE's PİRANA unmanned vessel and the first DİHA takeoff from the TCG Anadolu.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/denizkurdu-i2026-exercises-feature-pirana-and-diha-demonstrations

### 2026-09-24: Turkish Naval Forces conduct Denizkurdu-I/2026 unmanned systems exercise

Turkish Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu highlighted the success of the Denizkurdu-I/2026 exercise, focusing on the integration of manned and unmanned combat systems.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-naval-forces-conduct-denizkurdu-i2026-unmanned-systems-exercise

### 2026-09-19: Turkey launches Denizkurdu-I/2026 military exercise amid Aegean tensions

Turkey has launched the Denizkurdu-I/2026 military exercise across four seas, amid rising tensions with Greece over airspace violations and unilateral NOTAMs in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-launches-major-denizkurdu-i2026-naval-exercise

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Cite as: Turkey-Greece maritime and airspace tensions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-greece-maritime-and-airspace-tensions