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The multinational air exercise “Iniochos 2025”, one of Europe’s most ambitious and multifaceted air warfare training events, concluded successfully on Friday, April 11, 2025, following nearly two weeks of intensive operations that began on Monday, March 31, 2025. This year’s iteration of the exercise set a new benchmark in participation, complexity, and operational scope, reaffirming its status as a premier event for air forces seeking to enhance interoperability, readiness, and tactical proficiency.
Largest Participation Since Inception
“Iniochos 2025” witnessed the largest number of participating air forces since the exercise was institutionalized as an INVITEX (Invitation Exercise). A total of 12 countries actively took part in flight operations, while three additional nations—Bahrain, Cyprus, and Slovakia—attended as observers, reflecting growing international interest in the exercise.
The participating nations and their aircraft included:
- France with Mirage 2000 multirole fighters
- India with the Su-30MKI, demonstrating the country’s expanding defense cooperation with NATO members
- Israel with the Gulfstream G-550, configured for advanced airborne early warning
- Italy with the Tornado multirole combat aircraft
- Montenegro with the Bell 412 utility helicopter
- Poland with its versatile fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons
- Qatar operating the formidable F-15QA
- Slovenia with the Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainer/light attack aircraft
- Spain contributing its fleet of F/A-18 Hornets
- United Arab Emirates deploying the Mirage 2000-9, an advanced variant of the classic French platform
- United States of America, with F-16s, KC-46 Pegasus, and KC-135 Stratotankers, showcasing significant logistical and aerial refueling capabilities
- Greece, the host nation, fully engaged with its entire spectrum of fighter jets, helicopters, transport aircraft, and training platforms
Andravida Air Base: The Nerve Center of the Exercise
The Andravida Air Base served as the central hub of activity, with nearly all foreign fighter detachments operating from its facilities. The 116 Combat Wing, home to a variety of Hellenic Air Force (HAF) assets, played a pivotal supporting role, hosting a significant share of the Greek aircraft and personnel.
A total of 1,300 sorties were conducted across the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) during the exercise, underscoring the high operational tempo and the scale of coordination required among the participating forces.
Multi-Domain, Realistic Scenarios
One of the core strengths of “Iniochos 2025” lay in its realism and operational diversity. The scenarios simulated full-spectrum air operations in both day and night conditions, ranging from air superiority and ground attack missions to search-and-rescue (SAR), electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and aerial refueling.
The inclusion of joint operations with the Hellenic Army, Navy, and Special Warfare Command added further depth and realism. These branches contributed by creating integrated multi-domain challenges, simulating complex battlefield environments reflective of modern conflict zones.
Additionally, the exercise embraced digital transformation by integrating Tactical Simulators of F-16 aircraft from the Operational Synthetic Training Squadron of the Hellenic Air Tactics Center. These simulators enabled virtual mission planning and execution, allowing crews to sharpen their skills in a synthetic yet high-fidelity operational setting.
Strategic Significance
“Iniochos 2025” not only demonstrated the Hellenic Air Force’s capability to host and coordinate a complex international exercise, but also highlighted Greece’s strategic role in the southeastern flank of NATO and its growing relevance in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern security dynamics.
The presence of diverse participants—from European allies to Middle Eastern partners and Indo-Pacific powers—underscored the global importance of multilateral defense cooperation and the shared interest in maintaining stability in an increasingly contested airspace.
The success of “Iniochos 2025” sets the stage for future iterations of the exercise to be even more inclusive and technologically advanced, aligning with evolving defense challenges and the pursuit of collective security.
