Iniochos 2024 / 2024 | Final-approach.nl

Annual exercise Iniochos took place between April the 1st and the 19th from Andravida Air Base, Greece. Iniochos was held for the first time in the late 80's as a small scale tactical exercise to train Greek pilots in combined air operations. Over the next years, the success of the exercise led to the decision on establishing it as an annual event. In 2005 the exercise was decentralized, with the participating aircraft operating from their home bases, while the planning and the coordination were taking place in the Air Tactics Center and the Fighter Weapons School facilities in Andravida Air Force Base. In November 2013 the decision was made to adopt a Single Base Concept, upgrading the exercise scale to medium and expanding the spectrum of operations with the objective to create a more realistic and demanding environment, with an intensive and prolonged 24/7 battle rhythm, significantly increasing the level of training.

The main objective for this exercise is to provide realistic training, which is achieved by creating a realistic battle environment. Participating personnel are exposed to an intensive battle rhythm with realistic attrition rates and challenging scenarios which include multiple modern threats and real time live injects, tailored to produce the fog of war and the friction effect which is expected to dominate the modern battlefield and test both the physical and psychological endurance of the modern fighter.

In order to achieve the objectives of the two weeks lasting exercise the HFWS oversees the missions from scenario planning to debriefing and makes certain that they cover the full spectrum of missions currently performed by the HAF such as:

Air operations versus Integrated Air Defense 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

Given the high level of the HAF (Hellenic Air Force) personnel and the capability to conduct exercises, involving a variety of weapon systems within one of the largest exercise areas in Europe, the Iniochos aspires to become the most competitive exercise in Europe and the Mediterranean region, and provide participants with a high level of training and unique experience of participation.

This years edition started on April the 1^st with the detachment deployment, meaning that week most of the flying participants arrived at Andravida, a strictly military base located 1.5 nm from the town of Andravida in Elis, Greece. Also some familiarization flights were flown this week.

On April the 8^th the execution phase of the exercise started, meaning several waves a day started flying their missions across the exercise areas which spread over the Greek mainland and seas. This phase will last till Thursday the 18^th after which all participants will redeploy back home. During Iniochos 2024 the F-16 Tactical Simulators of the newly established HAF’s Synthetic Training Squadron (STS) will be used for a number of missions, expanding Iniochos even further into the virtual world.

This years participation involved large numbers of HAF assets again such as F-16C/V's, Rafales, Mirage 2000's and F-4E's, but also helicopter, transport aircraft and air defence systems joined operating from other locations.

Furthermore in Iniochis 2024 a significant number of allies, partners and friends participate with air assets such as: