US navy makes available Souda based spyplane to watch over forests

A boeing P-* Poseidon submarine hunter Photo: Wikipedia

US navy deployed a P-8 spyplane to monitor forests in Greece and Crete. The plane came from Italy and flew over the fire affected areas in Attica for over an hour before landing at Souda air base.

It is thought that the plane will continue its mission of watching over forests for fires for now. It is not known however, for how long the surveillance of the forests will continue.

Greek Defence Minister Kammenos and  US Ambassador Payatt had a meeting to discuss the P-8’s mission, where the US ambassador expressed his condolences to the victims of the fires.

The Boeing P-8 is an aircraft designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is capable of broad-area maritime and coastal operations. It is also effective at humanitarian and search and rescue missions.