A debate has opened on whether Greece will give France a Crotale anti-aircraft battery to cover the Paris airspace during the Paris Olympics.
“If our allies are requested for a certain period of time, in this case, the Olympic Games, some specific assistance that does not affect the defense capacity of the country in any way, this will be done, but always after coordination and agreement between the two sides. But we are always talking, I make it clear, about a limited specific period of time. When there is something more, obviously you will be informed” said Mr. Marinakis in response to a related question.
According to the Kathimerini newspaper, the French Authorities have submitted a request for the transfer of an array of short-range mobile anti-aircraft systems of the Air Force’s CROTALE type, on the grounds that it will be used during the Paris Olympic Games. The French side has hinted that since Paris intends to provide anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, it needs allied assistance to ensure the air defense of critical infrastructure inside the Olympic capital.
The CROTALE system is French-made and joined the Air Force in 2003. It is a short-range, all-weather mobile anti-aircraft system. The mission of the system is to provide anti-aircraft protection of tactical and strategic targets from air threats with the ability to deal with aircraft and missiles at low and medium altitudes.
The system is mounted on a towed vehicle and has a search RADAR with a range of 20 km, an interception RADAR/FLIR with a range of 20 km and a launcher with two carriers of four missiles each.
