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Drones could make Turkey-Greece clashes less risky, but more frequent

Disputes between Greece and Turkey over Aegean airspace go back decades, but drones could change the face of their encounters drastically.
Greek Air force pilots stand on the tarmac by F-16 Falcon fighting aircrafts in Nea Anchialos air force base some 300 km north of Athens November 8, 2004. Greek air force bases where open to the public on Monday as part of celebrations for the day of Archangel Michael, protector of the Greek air force. REUTER/Yannis Behrakis  YB/THI - RP5DRHXPMGAC

Tensions over Aegean airspace continue to grow as Turkish and Greek aircraft have been involved in several confrontations this month. One unique encounter, however, was particularly interesting.

As Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar on April 6 was inspecting his country's Aegean army, two Greek F-16s began pursuing a Turkish-made ANKA-B drone that had just entered service with the Turkish navy and was testing its reconnaissance and surveillance flights over the Aegean Sea. As the drone, which was launched from Turkey's Dalaman Naval Air Base, was operating at an altitude of 6,600 meters (21,600 feet) off the Greek island of Rhodes, it was approached by the F-16s from Kastelli Air Base on Crete. According to a report in Greece's Ekathimerini newspaper, the planes flew alongside the drone for a while before handing over the intercept mission to two other F-16s.

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