The Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis visited on Thursday 20 November 2025 the Search and Rescue Operations Squadron (MEED) at Elefsina Air Base and the 865 Air Supply Battalion (865 TENEF).
Present during the visit were the Chief of Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Commander of the Special Warfare Command Lieutenant General Georgios Manouras, the Commander of the Special Operations Joint Command Major General Georgios Kapralos, and the Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Air Force Support Command Major General Dimitrios Fanaras.
During the visit to the Search and Rescue Operations Squadron, where he was welcomed by the Squadron’s Commander Major Konstantinos Gounaridis, and to the 865 Air Supply Battalion, where he was welcomed by the Unit’s Commander Lieutenant Colonel Christos Pappas, the Deputy Minister was given a detailed briefing on the operational capabilities, mission and current activities of the Units.
He then had the opportunity to tour the operational readiness facilities, talk to the personnel, and see firsthand the high level of professionalism, training, and readiness of the Armed Forces members.
He emphasized the importance of the work being done and highlighted the political leadership’s ongoing commitment to supporting and strengthening the Units with resources, infrastructure, and modern equipment, so that they would respond effectively to the demands of the modern operational environment.
He stressed that the Search and Rescue Operations Squadron, with its specialized mission in search and rescue on land and at sea, is one of the most critical operational structures, acting daily with self-sacrifice and efficiency, where the human factor makes the difference, while the 865 Air Supply Battalion ensures continuous support for air operations, maintaining the supply chain at the highest level, which allows the Air Force to carry out operations safely.
Finally, he congratulated the personnel on their professionalism, devotion and high morale, which they demonstrate on a daily basis.
