On Thursday, September 26, 2024, the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Crete Firing Range took place at the Launch Site in Chordaki, Akrotiri. The celebration included an anti-aircraft firing of the “Patriot” missile system by the German Armed Forces, a demonstration flight by an F-16 aircraft of the «ZEUS”» team, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of the fallen and an official liturgy officiated by His Eminence, Metropolitan of Kydonia and Apokoronas, Damaskinos. The event was attended by Lieutenant General Athanasios Sardellis, representing the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Lieutenant General Lutz Kohlhaus, and Colonel Dennis Van Dijk, representing the German and Dutch Armed Forces, respectively. In addition, delegations from NATO member states, representatives of the military, religious, and political authorities of the Municipality of Chania, former Commanders of the Crete Firing Range, and representatives of companies involved in weapons and target systems manufacturing also participated.
