The projected completion and operation date of the first platform is April 2026, while another six are being prepared across the Aegean.
contract now signed, work on the first platform began immediately at the Salamina shipyards, where both the main deck and the support columns are already under construction. The inaugural platform, set to be anchored in the Myrtoan Sea, is expected to be completed and operational by April 2026.
The ambitious project involves seven floating radar stations, most of which will be positioned along the Eastern Aegean frontier. As first reported by TA NEA last May, the system has drawn strong reactions from Turkey, since its capabilities allow comprehensive surveillance of Aegean traffic — from the air, across the sea surface, and even below it. As Ankara’s objections escalated, the project appeared to stall, but well-informed sources now confirm that preparations never stopped; they simply continued “below Ankara’s radar and away from the public eye.”
Backed by Europe
The Myrtoan installation marks only the beginning. According to senior military officials speaking to TA NEA, additional platforms will follow in the Eastern Aegean — and likely at strategic points in the Eastern Mediterranean as well, such as southeast of Crete. The project also carries a European stamp, as it forms part of an EU initiative to bolster border surveillance, with Cyprus participating in the program.
As officials from the Greek company ETME — the patent holder and coordinator of the project — explained during the initial development phase, and under the technical supervision of France’s Naval Group, the structures will consist of pillars rising up to 50 meters above sea level. Each platform will be equipped with AESA radars, cameras, UAVs, and advanced data transmission and relay systems, enabling not only the surveillance of maritime routes but also the operation of the platforms as key data-forwarding hubs.
According to the same sources, the platform’s design allows for further expansion, including the addition of a helipad and other systems as required. In practice, the possibilities are almost limitless, as the structure can be configured to accommodate whichever capabilities the Armed Forces deem necessary.
The total cost of the program amounts to €19.5 million, of which €5.4 million has been provided by the Defense Ministries of Greece and Cyprus, €12.8 million by the European Union, and €1.3 million by private investors.
Source: ΤΑ ΝΕΑ