20220328-20220331_Exercise "Iniochos" at Andravida Air Base.
We visited the Iniochos-2022 exercise at Andravida Air Base (2 spottersdays). The other pictures of our trip to Greece can be found here: https://www.waltervanbelphotography.be/Travel/Europe/20220326-20220402-Trip-to-Greece/
Andravida Air Base has been hosting the exercise since the mid-1980s. Since 2015, the Hellenic Air Force has opened the exercise to foreign nations to practise air-land and air-to-maritime operations.
This year, ten F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath (Suffolk) were present, as were 11 Israeli F-16I Soufas from both 201 "The One Squadron" and 253 "The Negev Squadron" at Ramon (LLRM). Israel also brought a Nachson G550 Eitam (Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP) airborne warning and control system aircraft.
These were supplemented at Andravida by seven Italian Air Force Tornado IDS/ECRs from 6 Stormo, two Slovenian Air Force PC-9Ms and a Cyprus Air Force AW139.
This was a lot less than normal, due to requirements needed elsewhere...
Nevertheless, all of the current HAF fighter squadrons participated, although 335 and 336 Mira operated from their home base (Araxos) during the first week.
Eight more fighters operated from the US Navy's USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) and from the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle (R91).
In total, this resulted in a very capable force of 81 fighter aircraft.
Read MoreAndravida Air Base has been hosting the exercise since the mid-1980s. Since 2015, the Hellenic Air Force has opened the exercise to foreign nations to practise air-land and air-to-maritime operations.
This year, ten F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath (Suffolk) were present, as were 11 Israeli F-16I Soufas from both 201 "The One Squadron" and 253 "The Negev Squadron" at Ramon (LLRM). Israel also brought a Nachson G550 Eitam (Gulfstream Aerospace G-V-SP) airborne warning and control system aircraft.
These were supplemented at Andravida by seven Italian Air Force Tornado IDS/ECRs from 6 Stormo, two Slovenian Air Force PC-9Ms and a Cyprus Air Force AW139.
This was a lot less than normal, due to requirements needed elsewhere...
Nevertheless, all of the current HAF fighter squadrons participated, although 335 and 336 Mira operated from their home base (Araxos) during the first week.
Eight more fighters operated from the US Navy's USS Harry Truman (CVN-75) and from the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle (R91).
In total, this resulted in a very capable force of 81 fighter aircraft.