Turkish UAVs over the Aegean: From a ‘mystery’ flight to Ankara’s nighttime strategy

A Turkish Bayraktar TB2 flew over the eastern Aegean shortly before midnight on Sept. 3, tracing an unusual pattern on flight-tracking maps. The flight served as a reminder that Ankara’s activity in the Athens FIR does not end after sunset.

The incident is described as part of a broader nighttime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance strategy. Turkish UAVs carry electro-optical cameras and infrared sensors that can detect the heat signatures of Greek Navy ships, record troop movements on the islands and map defensive positions without being visible to the naked eye.

Night flights also test the response of Greek radar operators in low-visibility conditions. The article says this activity passed through two distinct phases. During the period of heightened Greek-Turkish tensions from 2021 to early 2023, Turkish drones operated around the clock and sometimes flew over inhabited Greek islands, including Kinaros and Kandeliussa, during the night.

After the Athens Declaration, nighttime drone flights fell noticeably, partly to avoid an aerial accident in darkness that could trigger a crisis. They did not stop completely. The latest flight is presented as evidence that Turkey still activates UAVs at night to send political messages or conduct targeted surveillance, while daytime violations remain frequent. The article points to 11 violations by Turkish aircraft and drones on Sept. 2.

The flights also impose a low-cost burden on Greece. Operating a UAV costs Turkey relatively little, while the Greek Air Force may need to scramble manned F-16 fighters to identify and intercept it.