A major military exercise dubbed “Blue Homeland” will be held for 10 days, starting January 7, by Turkey, according to the spokesman for the neighbor’s Defense Ministry, Zeki Akturk.

The aeronautical exercise, which returns after three years, will take place in the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean.

According to Akturk, 87 surface ships, seven submarines, seven unmanned naval vehicles, 31 aircraft, 17 helicopters, 28 drones and 20,000 troops, including members of the underwater attack and defense teams, will take part in the exercise.

Exercise “Blue Homeland” will conclude on January 16, while the day for distinguished visitors was set for January 9 at the Aksaz naval base across the Rhodes coast.

It is noted that in 2021 the exercise had started at the end of February.