Hellenic Navy sends Anti-Air Destroyer to Altis amid ongoing conflict
The Stratis Class Destroyer HS Atlas was sent to assist the Altis Armed Forces in defending island's airspace against drones
The Hellenic Navy has sent one of its most advanced destroyers to the Island of Altis, amid an ongoing escalation of the civil war on the Greek territory. The HS Atlas is a Stratis Class destroyer, developed and built via a joint venture between Greece, France, Italy and the UK.
According to a Hellenic Navy source, the vessel has ‘immense Anti-Air capability’, ‘carrying hundreds of Anti-Air and Anti-Drone weapons’ along with ’the most advanced communications and targeting systems in the world’. Publicly available images have shown that HS Atlas differs from other vessels of the Stratis Class, having originally been a trial unit for the Royal Navy, with additional close range weapon systems and an enlarged hangar space.
According to our analysts, HS Atlas makes use of multiple unique weapon systems. These range from 30mm “Praetorian” CWIS gatling guns for point defence to US produced MK49 “Spartan” missiles alongside locally manufactured Mk21 “Centurion” missiles for medium to long range interceptions. This layered defence gives HS Atlas a reliable defensive armament, claiming ‘a maximum range for missile and drone interceptions exceeding 75km’, according to Hellenic Navy Sources.
HS Atlas has also been photographed carrying UK produced AW159 Wildcat multi-role helicopters, able to carry infantry, as well as offensive and defensive weapons. Most notably, Wildcats in Hellenic Naval service have been equipped with Modified Sidewinder Missiles for Anti-Drone use.
As part of the deployment to Altis, HS Atlas has been joined by a number of smaller patrol vessels, designed to act as “Radar Picket” vessels. This has been a tactic used as far back as the Second World War. These vessels have been sold directly to the AAF, with their crews recently having been trained by their Greek counterparts. Equipped with machine guns, grenade launchers and gatling guns, these vessels also serve as coastal patrol vessels to intercept illegal shipments to and from Altis, according to one AAF Naval commander.
Many commentators also believe this deployment of Greek Assets to the region is a warning to SSA naval units in the Mediterranean, particularly after a Russian Fleet was recently spotted heading towards the region.
In response to these comments, the Hellenic Navy issued the following statement: ’the movement of Hellenic Navy vessels to Altis is purely of a defensive nature, and we once again implore all foreign nations to be wary of ongoing military operations, and to avoid any conflict regions. We will not tolerate foreign interference into Greek National Security affairs.’