The international joint military exercise “MEDUSA 15-2026” was underway across the wider region of Crete, the Myrtoan Sea and the maritime area south of Karpathos on Friday. It had started on September 10 and is to run until September 19, 2026.

The exercise was launched in 2015 as a bilateral air and naval cooperation initiative between Greece and Egypt. In 2026, the exercise was being led by Greece, Egypt and the Republic of Cyprus, while France and Italy contributed operational assets.
Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Mozambique also participated as observers, underscoring the exercise’s broader international character.

The main objective of the exercise is to strengthen cooperation and interoperability among the participating Armed Forces.
To this end, naval units  – including frigates, missile boats, corvettes, an amphibious assault ship, submarines and landing craft – have been deployed, alongside air assets such as fighter jets, helicopters and UAVs, as well as Special Operations and amphibious forces. The scenarios include air and maritime operations, anti-submarine warfare, amphibious operations and missions to protect critical maritime and energy infrastructure.

Particular emphasis was being placed on the use of UAVs and FPV drones and on countering modern unmanned threats. The operational scenarios focused on neutralising simultaneous swarm attacks, while the capabilities of Greece’s “Kentavros” Counter-UAS system were being put into practice.

“MEDUSA 15-2026” highlights the adaptation of military training to the evolving demands of modern operational theatres, combining naval, air and land forces with the latest defence technologies.