Turkish Military Drone Conducts Unusual Night Flight Around Lesvos

by · Greek City Times

A Turkish military drone conducted an unusual surveillance flight around the Greek island of Lesvos on November 7, completing a circular route through international airspace within the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR).

According to aviation monitoring outlet ItaMilRadar, the Turkish Air Force Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) departed from the Turkish coast before heading west towards the North Aegean, passing both north and south of Lesvos before returning to the Turkish mainland.

The aircraft, identified by registration TC-S26 and callsign TCS26, reportedly began its mission at approximately 10:30 pm Greek time.

Unlike the more familiar Turkish surveillance flights that follow routes parallel to the Turkish coastline, the drone’s trajectory took it around the perimeter of the Greek island.

Read more: PASOK Calls on Government to Seek EU Measures Over Turkish Provocations

Flight-tracking data showed the UAV travelling north of Lesvos before heading west-southwest and returning along its southern side, effectively completing a circuit around the island.

Flight Remained Outside Greek National Airspace

The drone remained outside Greece’s 10-nautical-mile national airspace throughout the reported mission, operating over international waters.

However, its flight took place within the Athens FIR without a submitted flight plan, consistent with a longstanding pattern of Turkish military aircraft operating in the region without filing flight plans.

Although the flight did not constitute a violation of Greek national airspace, its unusual route attracted attention because of its proximity to Lesvos and the surveillance capabilities of the aircraft.

The Bayraktar TB2 is equipped with electro-optical and infrared surveillance systems, allowing it to collect imagery and monitor activity over considerable distances.

Its ability to remain airborne for extended periods makes it a regular component of Turkey’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

Unusual Surveillance Pattern in the Aegean

The decision to conduct a circular night-time flight around a major Greek island differs from the more conventional surveillance routes observed along the Turkish coastline.

Such a trajectory potentially provides opportunities to observe the surrounding maritime environment from multiple directions.

However, publicly available flight-tracking information does not establish the precise purpose of the mission or whether it was connected to a specific Turkish military operation.

The incident highlights the continued use of unmanned aerial systems by Turkey for surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities in the Aegean, an area where airspace and maritime jurisdiction remain longstanding points of tension between Athens and Ankara.

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