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The “Iniochos 2024” multinational air exercise officially concluded on Friday, April 12, 2024, after two intensive weeks of operations that began on Monday, April 1, 2024. Held annually under the auspices of the Hellenic Air Force (HAF), this year’s edition reaffirmed Greece’s central role in fostering interoperability and joint operational readiness among NATO and partner nations through realistic and complex air warfare training.
A Proven Platform for Multilateral Defense Cooperation
“Iniochos 2024” brought together air forces from 9 nations, conducting coordinated operations across the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR). Participating nations included:
Participating Air Forces and Assets
A total of nine countries deployed air assets, representing the largest force participation to date:
- France, flying Rafale multirole fighters alongside E‑3F AEW aircraft
- United Kingdom, operating Eurofighter Typhoon jets
- United States, deploying F‑16 fighters and MQ‑9 Reaper drones
- Spain, with F/A‑18 Hornet fighter aircraft
- Qatar, operating Rafale fighters
- Republic of Cyprus, with an AW‑139 helicopter
- Montenegro, flying a Bell 412 (B‑414) utility helicopter
- Romania, contributing F‑16 Fighting Falcons
- Saudi Arabia, deploying Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft
Andravida: The Operational Epicenter
As in previous years, the Andravida Air Base served as the main operating center, hosting most of the foreign fighter contingents and offering the exercise’s centralized command and control infrastructure. The base’s proximity to varied terrain and airspace makes it ideal for conducting full-spectrum, high-fidelity training.
Greek aircraft also operated from additional bases, including Araxos, Souda Bay, and Larisa, ensuring maximum airspace utilization and offering participants the opportunity to train in different geographic and tactical conditions.
1000+ Sorties and Full-Spectrum Air Operations
Throughout the two-week period, over 1,000 sorties were flown in dynamic and challenging environments, simulating high-threat, peer-adversary scenarios. The missions covered a wide range of operational domains, including:
- Air superiority and air defense
- Close air support (CAS) and joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) coordination
- Strategic and tactical reconnaissance
- Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD/DEAD)
- Combat search and rescue (CSAR)
- Air interdiction and dynamic targeting
- Aerial refueling and long-range strike coordination
Crucially, missions were conducted both day and night, emphasizing high-tempo operations and the integration of multi-national command structures. Scenarios simulated realistic rules of engagement, contested environments, electronic warfare threats, and combined arms operations.
Joint and Digital Domain Integration
“Iniochos 2024” once again benefited from the support of the Hellenic Navy, Army, and Special Warfare Command, enabling a truly joint training environment. Maritime patrol aircraft, naval vessels, special forces teams, and ground-based air defense units were all integrated into the scenarios, offering participants a multi-domain operational context.
Moreover, the exercise incorporated network-enabled training tools and tactical simulators at the Operational Synthetic Training Squadron, allowing crews to conduct virtual mission rehearsals, digital debriefing, and real-time data fusion analysis.
Strategic Relevance and Forward Outlook
By bringing together air forces from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, Iniochos 2024 showcased Greece’s role as a bridge between regions and as a stabilizing force within NATO’s southeastern flank. The wide range of aircraft types, tactics, and command philosophies tested during the exercise enhanced interoperability, situational awareness, and mutual trust among allies.
As threats evolve and modern warfare becomes increasingly multi-domain, Iniochos continues to adapt, offering a proving ground for aircrews and commanders to test new capabilities and strengthen international defense ties.
With the curtain closed on a successful 2024 edition, planning for Iniochos 2025 is already underway—promising even broader participation and more advanced integration in the years to come.
