Greece is establishing a V-BAT UAV base in Samos

Greece is making preparations to increase military surveillance activities in the Sea of ​​Archipelago. According to Greek defense news site OnAlert, the Greek Land Forces plans to expand its fleet of US-made V-BAT UAVs. In this context, 10 new V-BAT systems will be purchased in addition to the existing systems. Additionally, this step aims to expand surveillance capacity in the region.

The aim of the new systems is to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance in different regions at the same time. It is also aimed to ensure operational continuity in maintenance and training processes. Thus, it is desired that tasks are not interrupted while a system is under maintenance or training.

V-BAT UAV Base Will Be Established on Samos Island

According to the supply plan, a new base for V-BAT systems is envisaged on Samos Island in the east of the Sea of ​​Islands. This base is intended to enable mission planning, maintenance and technical support activities. Therefore, the new base will make it possible to carry out systems maintenance and mission preparation on the island.

Greece first added V-BAT systems to its inventory with the donation of the Athanasios Laskaridis Foundation. Within the scope of this donation, two systems consisting of a total of four aircraft were received. The first systems were deployed on the islands of Rhodes and Lesbos. Additionally, operational evaluations were made with flights in the region.

On the other hand, the systems are affiliated with the 472nd Surveillance and Information Battalion within the Land Forces. Moreover, a training center for the use of these systems operates in Komotini. For this reason, personnel training also follows the same structure.

What Does V-BAT UAV Offer?

Developed by US-based Shield AI, V-BAT is capable of vertical takeoff and landing. In addition, it also has fixed-wing flight capability. According to the manufacturer's data, the UAV, equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors, can stay in the air for more than 12 hours. For example, the technical specifications are as follows:

Wingspan: 3.8 meters

Maximum takeoff weight: 75 kilograms

Payload capacity: about 18 kilograms

Connection range: 130 to 180 kilometers depending on the communication equipment used

Ready for the mission: less than 30 minutes with a two-person team

The system can descend to an area of approximately 4.6 meters by 4.6 meters. Therefore, it can operate from limited areas without requiring a runway. For this reason, it becomes easier to use V-BAT UAV in narrow areas such as islands.

Greece plans to use V-BAT systems in sea and land surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and search and rescue. In addition, evaluations regarding the coordinated operation of the systems with naval elements and other UAV platforms are ongoing. Thus, the fleet will be used in both sea and land missions. Accordingly, the next step will be the purchase of 10 new systems and the establishment of the base in Samos.