The incident, which occurred on November 18 near the Greek island of Limnos, was the latest episode in long-running tensions between Turkey and Greece, traditional rivals though allies in NATO, over territorial rights in the Aegean.

"An F-16 airplane of the Turkish Air Force used three flares to protect itself against a Greek plane which locked its missile radar on to it during a training flight in international airspace south of the island of Limnos," the general staff said in a statement.

Flares are defensive counter-measures used on aircraft to confuse radar and heat seeking missiles.

"There was absolutely no harrassment or provocation by the Turkish aircraft," the statement said.

"Under rules of engagement, locking a radar on to another plane for more than five seconds is considered a hostile activity and harrassment. In this case, it is obvious that the Greek aircraft harrassed the Turkish one," it added.

Ankara has categorically denied a string of recent accusations by Athens that Turkish planes and boats have stepped up violations of Greek airspace and territorial waters in the Aegean.

"Turkey has the right to a free use of the international airspace and waters of the Aegean... which is not subject to the permission of any other country. Turkey has no intention of giving up this right," the general staff said.

It accused Greek authorities of disseminating "biased and provocative" information about Turkish military activities in the Aegean despite "Turkey's good will," which has been displayed through a 65-percent decrease in the number of Turkish flights in the region in the past three months, when compared to the same period last year.

"Turkey places great importance to its relations with Greece and wishes that the Aegean becomes a sea of friendship and solidarity," it said.

Turkey and Greece have notably improved bilateral ties in recent years, but they remain at loggerheads over territorial issues in the Aegean.