Exercise Iniochos 2018

Situated 150km from Athens, Andravida Air Base home of the 117 Combat wing again played host to 60 aircraft, crews and maintainers from seven nations taking part in the annual multinational Exercise Iniochos (Chariot) between March 12 to 23rd 2018.

This Hellenic Air Force led International Joint Medium Scale Exercise is the largest of its type held in the Mediterranean and set to become Europe’s version of the USA led “Red Flag” Exercises .

F15E 97219 492 FS Tornado EA200B MM7004 6-55 6 Stormo

Located within the Athens FIR with minimal conflicting civilian air traffic, Greece has the ideal mix of rugged mixed landscapes and the Aegean sea to provide the varied unrestricted airspace needed for this type of exercise.

The objective of this multinational exercise is to promote cooperation between allied forces under simulated multi threat combat conditions. In order to facilitate these aims the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) Air Tactics Centre (ATC) were tasked with producing combat missions which cover the following scenario currently practised by HAF

Air operations versus Integrated Air Defence System (IADS)
Offensive Counter Air / Airfield Attack
Air Interdiction / Special Targets (bridges, power stations, vehicles, etc.).
Anti Surface Warfare
Slow Mover Protection (SLOMO)
Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR).
Dynamic Targeting (DT) / Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance (SCAR) / Close Air Support (CAS) / Time Sensitive Targets (TST).
High Value Airborne Asset (HVAA) Protect/Attack

Once each mission was completed a full debrief was carried out by HAF ATC staff using the latest diagnostic tools using data obtained from sensor equipment carried by the participating aircraft. This means that crews gain the maximum training benefit from each mission.

Participating Aircraft

Hellenic Air Force

F14C Block 30/50/52+/M from 330,335,336,337,340,341,343,347 Mira

F4E from 338 Mira

Mirage 2000-5EG from 331,332 Mira

EMB 145 AEW&C from 380 Mira

Cyprus

Leonardo AW139 from 2 platoon

Israel Air Force

F16C Barak from 117 Sqn

Beechcraft B200 Zufit

Italy

Panavia Tornado EA200B from 6 Stormo

Unites States Air Force

F15E from 492nd FS 48th FW

United Kingdom

Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 from 3 Sqn

United Arab Emirates

Mirage 2000-9 from 71 Sqn

A full selection of photos from Iniochos 18 can be found here :Ex Iniochos 18

I would like to thank the Commanding Officer and staff of the 117 Combat wing Hellenic Air Force for their hospitality and allowing fantastic access to the participants of Iniochos 18.