Greek battle tanks and armored vehicles will travel more than 2,000 kilometers to participate in the large-scale Orion 2026 military exercise in France.
This will be the largest deployment in the history of Greek armored units.
The contingent from the 25th Armored Brigade, consisting of Leopard tanks, Marder armored vehicles, support equipment, and a significant number of personnel, will head to the northern coast of France, where it will be integrated into French Army forces.
According to Kathimerini, the invitation from Paris reached the Hellenic Army General Staff a few weeks ago. To transport the Greek tanks and armored vehicles to northern France, military planners are preparing a large operation.
Based on the same reporting, the plan under consideration includes transporting the Leopard 2HELs and Marders by landing ship to a French port, while tank transporters and general-purpose trucks will travel overland.
Moreover, around 300 members of the Hellenic Armed Forces will fly to France.
This deployment effectively mirrors the route taken by French forces in November 2023, when 280 soldiers and Leclerc tanks traveled to Xanthi, northern Greece, for joint training with their Greek counterparts.
Orion 2026 is one of the largest military exercises to take place in Europe, designed to test the readiness of land forces in the face of the Russian threat and a potential escalation scenario with Moscow.