After Syros and Rhodes, Greece Plans Drone Base on Lesvos

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Greece is expanding its network of advanced V-BAT vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones across the Aegean, with Lesvos emerging as the next location for a permanent operational detachment, according to information cited by TA NEA.

The move comes as Turkey has renewed its objections to Greece’s military presence on Aegean islands, including Kastellorizo. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has described the militarisation of islands that Ankara considers demilitarised as a security threat, while Turkish Defence Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Zeki Akturk has also criticised Greece over its military presence on Kastellorizo. Athens has rejected the Turkish claims, saying they have no basis in international law and stressing Greece’s right to defend its territory.

Following the establishment of a V-BAT support base at Maritsa Airport on Rhodes, indications point to Lesvos as the next location for a permanent deployment.

According to the report, the evidence comes from procedures concerning the construction of a covered hangar at Pagani on Lesvos. The facility will reportedly accommodate and protect the ground vehicles that support the V-BAT drone detachment.

The planned infrastructure would mark a shift from temporary deployments towards a more permanent operational presence on the North Aegean island.

V-BATs extend Greek surveillance capability

The V-BAT is a Group 3 tactical unmanned aircraft that can take off and land vertically from an area of around five square metres, eliminating the need for a conventional runway.

Its design allows a small military team to transport the system by vehicle to remote locations, including coastal and forested areas, and deploy it within minutes.

With operating locations on Rhodes and potentially Lesvos, the Greek Army would gain a wider surveillance footprint across the Aegean and the maritime approaches to the Turkish coast.

The system can transmit high-resolution imagery and other intelligence to operational command centres and military units, providing commanders with real-time information about activity in the surrounding area.

The broader Greek programme reportedly envisages a fleet of at least 20 to 24 individual aircraft.

The first four drones entered Greek service through donations and underwent successful trials in the island environment. A major boost followed with approval of a procurement programme for 10 additional complete systems from the US manufacturer.

The V-BAT fleet is expected to serve both the Greek Army, including the defence of the country’s borders and the islands under the Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands (ASDEN), and the Hellenic Navy.

The system can also operate from the decks of Greece’s new Belharra-class frigates, according to the report.

A strategic agreement between the manufacturer and a Greek company could also open the way for Greece to become a regional production hub. Authorities are additionally examining the future integration of Greek loitering munitions with the V-BAT platform.

Such an integration could expand the system’s role beyond intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance towards strike capabilities.

Rhodes, Lesvos and Skyros

The establishment of V-BAT detachments on Rhodes and Lesvos, alongside the existing base on Skyros, would create a broader network covering key areas of the Aegean.

The drones can reportedly remain airborne for more than 12 hours and operate without the infrastructure required by conventional aircraft.

The development comes against a backdrop of increased Turkish unmanned-aircraft activity in the Aegean. Greek authorities have reported daily overflights by Turkish Bayraktar UAVs in the northeastern Aegean in recent weeks.

Greek authorities have also introduced temporary restrictions on UAV flights in parts of the southeastern Aegean, including areas around Karpathos and Kasos, amid increased drone activity and renewed movement surrounding the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection.

Fidan issues new warning over the electricity cable

The V-BAT developments coincide with renewed Turkish statements over Greece’s defence posture and energy plans.

In a recent interview with Turkish broadcaster NTV, Fidan again addressed tensions in the Aegean and warned Greece against what he described as “reckless” actions.

He said Turkey’s armed forces and Coast Guard Command remained on heightened alert and called for restraint. Fidan also reiterated Ankara’s opposition to the militarisation of islands that Turkey considers to have a demilitarised status.

His comments came as Greece and Cyprus prepare for renewed activity surrounding the Great Sea Interconnector, the planned electricity link connecting Greece, Cyprus and Israel.

Fidan said Athens and Ankara had reached a mutual understanding during contacts that began in May 2023, while stressing that Turkey remained attentive to developments surrounding the project.

His remarks have been interpreted in Greek reporting as another warning from Ankara over activities in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey has also recently stepped up its rhetoric over Kastellorizo. Akturk said Ankara was closely monitoring Greek activity on the island and maintained that military personnel and naval vessels there were incompatible with what Turkey considers Kastellorizo’s demilitarised status.

The Greek government has rejected those claims, while Turkish military activity in the Aegean has continued to draw attention. On September 18, Turkish F-16s carried out overflights of Ro and Zourafa, while Greek authorities recorded violations and infringements involving Turkish aircraft.

Against this backdrop, Greece’s expanding V-BAT network represents a significant increase in its ability to monitor the Aegean using unmanned systems deployed from relatively small and dispersed operating locations.

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