Turkish “hurricanes” cannot hit Athens
First entry: Wednesday, December 21, 2022, 8:04 p.m
Interview: Christos Mazanis
THE view that “the risk of a heated episode between Greece and Turkey has not gone away”, expressed speaking to “Jungle”, the Honorary Chief of the General Staff of the Army, general Giorgos Kampas.
At the same time he emphasized that “our country’s anti-aircraft defense umbrella is so set up and with appropriate weapon systems that under no circumstances would an alleged ballistic missile prepared by Turkey be able to penetrate this wall.”
“In the Aegean there is a risk of a hot episode at any time, either by accident or by some hot-blooded aviator with a sensitive finger, either at sea, or by a chief guard at our outpost or by a provocative manner on the part of Turkey so that force us to take the first step and let it be seen that Turkey is the one who is right and we are the aggressors”, he says characteristically.
“Erdogan says he will hit Athens, meaning civilians. Except that this is not done, it is beyond outside any concept of international law. Western countries and all those who consider us allies should somehow have a more aggressive and categorical attitude towards these statements. If this is not done, then Turkey takes courage”, he adds.
Does the Turkish missile “Tayfun” really exist?
Asked to position himself on the “Tayfun” missile that Erdogan says he will send to Athens, he comments: “Whether he exists or not we don’t know, but what he says is threatening. Turkey for 20 years has made missiles with a shorter range. It may start building such a rocket, but it still needs a lot of water in the gutter to accept that this rocket will go into industrial production. The current research stage is another, and industrial production is another. All this can be a lie and a propaganda as a means of pressure and intimidation towards a country like Greece”.
“An enemy ballistic missile cannot hit Athens”
“But even if the industrial production of this Turkish missile begins, we have a much higher level of know-how and equipment. Missiles are countered with anti-ballistic systems. At the moment Greece has the PATRIOT, a reliable American anti-ballistic system and upgraded to PAC-2 and we are going to get the PAC-3, that is, even more upgraded. We also have the TOR-M1 system and the S-300 missiles. All these systems can work fine and are usable and ready to use. Erdoğan’s missile could never reach Attica”says the general.
“Neighbors are insecure because we are arming ourselves and changing the military balance”
Commenting on the recent decision of the Turkish equipment committee to give the green light for mass production of Siper, Hisar and Sungur anti-aircraft missiles, Karaok laser-guided Atmaca anti-ship missiles and Gokdogan and Bozdogan air-to-air missiles, the honorary leader: “I consider it excessive that the Turks would go so far as to produce these systems. The Americans don’t have it, nor the French, will the Turks? Improbable to impossible. The Turkish Security Council is making this move because it now has an insecurity problem due to our own strategic moves. Because we are equipping ourselves and we have high-quality weapon systems, planes and the ships that we will have shortly, namely the Belharra frigates and I hope also the corvettes.”
For Rafale, Belharra and Israeli Spike n los missile systems
“With the moves we have made, that is, with the supply of the Rafale that will at some point be included in the country’s operational puzzle, with the F-16 Vipers that have already started to arrive, with the Belharra frigates that will arrive and especially the second one, the movements we have show that the balance is closing in our favor in the Aegean and in the air. As far as the land is concerned, the Israeli Spike n los missile systems that we are discussing to get will also shield the land part. It is a very powerful missile system that can enter a ship but can also hit tanks. It’s a new missile system, very advanced and tested,” the general emphasizes, among other things.
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