The Turkish press has celebrated the departure of Patriot missiles from the Karpathos region, portraying it as a strategic retreat by Greece. However, they avoid mentioning what is replacing the Patriots. The arrival of the Mirage 2000-5 fighters equipped with SCALP missiles presents a different defensive philosophy rather than a weakening of Greece's military presence.

The Mirage 2000-5 fighters are not static like the Patriot missiles but offer a flexible force capable of immediate response, air superiority, and strategic strikes. These Mirage fighters can also carry SCALP cruise missiles with an estimated range of about 300 kilometers, allowing for deep strikes into enemy territory without the aircraft needing to enter high-risk zones.

The SCALP missiles fly at extremely low altitudes with stealth characteristics and the capability to target critical infrastructure such as airfields, command centers, and high-value facilities. This makes the Mirage fighters a strategic deterrent tool, not just a means of intercepting incoming threats.

Many analysts argue that the Turkish discussion focuses solely on the departure of Patriot missiles because the presence of Mirage fighters with SCALP missiles creates a much more complex operational problem for Turkey.

Dionysios Antonellos

A journalist with experience in blogging, radio, and television. Writing and speaking about the daily events and developments in Greek-Turkish relations, I believe in stories that make people better.