Greece is hosting the pilots and military personnel of 14 countries taking part in the large-scale multi-national Air Force exercise Iniochos 2025 at the Andravida Air Base located in the regions of Elis between March 31 and April 11.
The military airbase was buzzing with activity as a plethora of aircraft were making between 120-150 landings and take-offs daily with fighter jets including F-16s, Mirage 2000s, and F/A Hornets.
The “Iniochos” exercise has become one of the most competitive military drills in Europe and the Mediterranean, providing participants with a high level of training.
The exercise includes participation from France with Mirage 2000, the U.S. with F-16, KC-46, and KC-135, the United Arab Emirates with Mirage 2000/9, India with Su-30, Spain with F/A-18 Hornet, Israel with G-550, Italy with Tornado, Qatar with F-15, Montenegro with B-412, Poland with F-16, and Slovenia with PC-9. Additionally, Cyprus is participating with support personnel, while Slovakia and Bahrain have sent observer teams.
The participation of Israel, France, and the U.S. in this Greek exercise is not only significant in terms of military cooperation but also sends a strong message of allied determination and readiness, especially in the face of potential revisionism in the region. This comes at a time when Ankara has begun to express its discomfort with Greece’s actions in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly regarding the upcoming cable laying for the Greece-Cyprus-Israel electrical interconnection off the coast of Kasos.
The Largest Exercise
“Iniochos 2025” exercise is the largest ever since the exercise was established as a multinational event. The participation of the UAE and Qatar in the exercise has irked Turkey. Turkish newspapers such as Sözcü, along with opposition newspapers, have criticized President Erdoğan, who had previously promoted the alliance with Qatar, highlighting the contradiction of Qatar and the UAE participating in an exercise alongside Israel.
The scenarios conducted during the “Iniochos” exercise cover the full range of operations a military air force may face. These include offensive operations against air power, defensive operations against air power, strategic air operations, air support for land and naval operations, reconnaissance missions, combat search and rescue missions, time-sensitive target operations, and high-value asset protection missions.
