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Greece and Israel conducted a joint naval exercise north of Crete, testing Rafael-made SPIKE guided missiles and demonstrating cooperation between their naval forces.

Greek forces successfully launched SPIKE NLOS and SPIKE ER2 missiles from a Machitis-class patrol vessel and a Mark V Special Operations Craft. The exercise culminated in the sinking of the decommissioned Greek frigate Bouboulina by an SUT torpedo fired from a Hellenic Navy submarine.

The exercise combined missile acceptance firings, maritime operations and coordination between naval and air units. It also provided an opportunity for senior Greek and Israeli naval officers to discuss maritime security, freedom of navigation and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The missile firings took place in the northern Cretan Sea under a joint operational exercise involving several Hellenic Navy commands and Israeli naval units.

The event was attended by General Dimitrios Choupis, Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff; Vice Admiral Eyal Harel, Commander of the Israeli Navy; Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras, Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff; and Vice Admiral Christos Sasiakos, Commander of the Hellenic Fleet.

The Hellenic Navy launched a SPIKE NLOS missile from a Machitis-class patrol vessel and a SPIKE ER2 missile from a Mark V Special Operations Craft. According to the Greek Navy, the firings were completed successfully and confirmed the effectiveness and operational value of the newly installed weapon systems.

Israeli Navy units also conducted guided-missile firings during the exercise, although the specific missiles and firing details were not disclosed.

Participating Greek forces included vessels from the Frigate, Submarine, Fast Attack Craft, Surveillance Ship and Underwater Demolition Commands, supported by helicopters from the Hellenic Naval Aviation Command and aircraft from the Hellenic Air Force.

Two Israeli Navy fast attack missile craft also took part, allowing the two navies to train together across multiple maritime missions and improve their ability to coordinate operations.

Submarine Torpedo Sinks Frigate

The decommissioned Hellenic Navy frigate Bouboulina (F463) served as the target vessel for the exercise. After the missile firings, a Hellenic Navy Papanikolis-class submarine fired an SUT torpedo that sank the former frigate in the Cretan Sea.

Bouboulina belonged to the Elli class, based on the Dutch Kortenaer-class design, also known as the S-type frigate. Before entering Greek service in 2001, the vessel served in the Royal Netherlands Navy as HNLMS Pieter Florisz (F826). Commissioned in 1983, it was the final Kortenaer-class frigate built. The ship remained in Hellenic Navy service until 2013 before being decommissioned.

The use of a former warship as a target allowed the participating forces to conduct a coordinated sequence of engagements involving ship-launched guided missiles and a submarine-fired torpedo. The event brought together surface and underwater capabilities in a single exercise, demonstrating how different naval platforms can contribute to a combined maritime operation.

SPIKE Missiles Expand Greece’s Naval Capabilities

Greece has equipped eight vessels with Rafael’s SPIKE missile systems, comprising four Machitis-class patrol vessels and four Mark V Special Operations Craft. The two platforms use different launcher configurations and missile variants suited to their respective operational roles.

The four Machitis-class vessels carry the Typhoon MLS-NLOS launcher system, which can accommodate eight SPIKE Non-Line-of-Sight missiles per vessel. With a reported range of up to 32 kilometers, the system provides a guided engagement capability against targets beyond the immediate line of sight. Its electro-optical and infrared guidance supports both sea-to-shore fire support and engagements against surface targets.

Installing the system required modifications to the patrol vessels’ aft sections. The new launcher replaced the aft-mounted 40 mm L/70 Breda-Bofors gun previously fitted on a Type 520R naval mount. This change introduced a guided-missile capability to the vessels, expanding the range of targets they can engage.

The other four vessels, all Mark V Special Operations Craft, are equipped with the Typhoon MLS-ER system. Each craft carries four SPIKE ER2 missiles mounted on its stern deck, with a reported range of up to 10 kilometers. Integrating the system required modifications to the main cabin, mast, and aft deck to accommodate the launcher and associated equipment.

Together, the two configurations give Greece’s patrol vessels and special operations craft different missile capabilities. The longer-range SPIKE NLOS system provides greater engagement reach, while the SPIKE ER2 installation equips the smaller special operations craft with a guided weapon suited to shorter-range engagements.

🇬🇷 🤝🇮🇱 ⚓Επιχειρησιακή συνεκπαίδευση και βολές Κ/Β ΕΕ 🗓️ 21 Οκτωβρίου 2026 📍 Αιγαίο Πέλαγος 🔗 https://t.co/0NwmBU5muO #hellenicnavy #hellenic #navy https://t.co/p2HeVOOlo9

— Πολεμικό Ναυτικό (@NavyGR) October 23, 2026