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Israeli pilots have conducted war games to explore ways to avoid the risk for aircraft from the advanced S-300 missile system, which was relocated from Russia to the Middle East. The games were carried out in Greece in April and May this year in top secrecy.

This has been reported by Reuters quoting diplomatic and military sources. According to the publication, the Russian anti-missile system used during the Greek-Israeli exercise was purchased by Cyprus 18 years ago, but is now located on the island of Crete.

Its activation helped Israeli air force pilots to explore the precise manner, in which S-300 systems detect aircraft coordinates, and how Israel could jam or dupe Russian radars. It is worth noting that a few Middle East countries, e.g. Syria and Iran, have also purchased similar systems from Russia.

According to the Reuters publication, Greece has taken this action at the request of the United States. Yet so far it is not clear whether Israel has informed its allies of the data collected.

"Part of the exercise involved Israeli aircraft manoeuvres against the Greek antiaircraft systems," a source told Reuters. Two other sources confirmed the activation of the S-300 anti-missile system in Crete.

All sources agreed to speak to the agency on the premise that their names and nationality would remain confidential. The General Staffs of Greece and Israel have refused to confirm or deny the use of the anti-missile system in Crete for the training of Israeli pilots. Asked whether the system was activated during the exercise, a senior Greek defence ministry official said: "S-300 is not functional at the moment."

He added that Greece's overall policy is not to allow third parties to conduct tests of the system's capabilities.