A joint flyover involving two C-130 transport aircraft—one from the United States Air Force (USAF) and one from the Hellenic Air Force—will take place today, Friday, May 2, between 11:30 and 12:30 over Attica.
The flyover is part of the ongoing bilateral military exercise “Stolen Cerberus XII”, according to an official announcement by the Hellenic National Defense General Staff.
This annual exercise is a component of broader U.S.–Greek defense cooperation and aims to enhance airlift interoperability and tactical coordination between the two countries’ armed forces. The USAF is participating with three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft based at Elefsina Air Base, as reported by the Athens News Agency in April 2024.
Captain Dylan Neidorff, a USAF pilot involved in the exercise in 2024, described the partnership as an opportunity to refine shared tactics and strengthen NATO cohesion: “The United States Air Force is currently here with three C-130Js at Elefsina Air Base to work in partnership with the 356th Tactical Transport Squadron. This exercise allows us to practice techniques, tactics, and procedures, improve interoperability, and strengthen NATO cooperation,” he stated. “We get to fly with the Greeks, mission plan with them, and work with airdrop loads across the entire base to build that partnership.”
The exercise also serves as a way for the Hellenic Air Force to gain hands-on experience with the C-130J Super Hercules, the latest variant of the aircraft currently under consideration for its future fleet.
According to Larry Gallogly, Director of Customer Requirements at Lockheed Martin, the C-130J offers significant advantages in operational efficiency:“This aircraft is just under 15 feet (about 5 meters) longer than the version currently flown by Greece, allowing it to carry two additional pallet positions. That extra cargo capacity means you can do more with fewer aircraft,” Gallogly explained. “The modernization and electronic upgrades also reduce the crew needed from six to just three—two pilots and a loadmaster.”
The current exercise builds on last year’s “Stolen Cerberus XI”, held from April 15 to 26, 2024, coordinated by the Special Warfare Command (SWCC) of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff. During that exercise, Greek participation included personnel and assets from the Navy’s Submarine Warfare Command (DYK), the Paratrooper School (SHAL), and Hellenic Air Force transport aircraft. The American side featured personnel from the USAF 37th Airlift Squadron, also operating three C-130J aircraft.
“Stolen Cerberus XI” was conducted in the broader Attica region and included diverse operational training: air cooperation, land and sea supply drops, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and both free-fall and static line parachute jumps.
