International MEDUSA 15 – 2026 military exercise continues off Crete through September 19
The international multi-branch exercise “MEDUSA 15 – 2026” is under way in the waters around Crete, the Myrtoan Sea and the sea area south of Karpathos, running from September 10 to September 19, 2026.
The exercise began in 2015 as a bilateral air-naval cooperation between Greece and Egypt but is now held regularly, with the host country rotating each year. It was hosted in Greece in 2024 and in Egypt in 2025, according to the report.
This year’s edition, part of a series that has previously included the MEDUSA 2026 exercise near Crete, involves Greece, Egypt and the Republic of Cyprus as the main participating countries, while France and Italy are contributing operational assets. Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Mozambique are taking part as observers, underscoring the exercise’s broadened international scope.
Forces and scenarios
The organizers state that the main aim of the exercise is to strengthen cooperation and interoperability among allied armed forces. To that end, naval units have been deployed, including frigates, missile boats, corvettes, a helicopter carrier, submarines and landing craft, alongside air assets such as fighter jets, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Special Operations units and amphibious forces are also participating.
The scenarios being exercised reportedly include air-naval and anti-submarine operations, amphibious actions, and missions to protect critical maritime and energy infrastructure. Particular emphasis is being placed on the use of UAV and FPV drone technology and on countering modern unmanned threats, according to the report.
