Thunder over Greece: INIOHOS 2018
Report by Danny Reijnen
Photos by Danny Reijnen and Susan Ros
March 29, 2018
INIOHOS 2018 is a Hellenic Air Force led large force flying exercise between NATO allies and partner nations which has been executed from March 12 to March 23, 2018. Multinational training engagements such as these, strengthen relationships, maintains joint readiness and interoperability and reassure regional allies and partners.
The exercise is an annual medium-scale exercise based in the facilities of the AIR TACTICS CENTER (ATC) at the Andravida Air Base.
The objective of INIOHOS is to provide realistic operational training in conditions that resemble a complex multi-threat combat environment, in order to maximize the operational readiness of any Air Force. It aspires to become the most competitive exercise in Europe and the Mediterranean area, and provides participants with a high level of education.
The exercise scenario adopts a Single Base Concept (execution of operations from a single Air Base),with the participation of all branches of the Armed Forces.
More than sixty (60) aircraft along with their respective pilots, their supporting crew and observers from the US, United Kingdom, Israel ,Italy, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Greece, have been participating in the two-week Iniohos drill.
The exercise has been divided into three phases:
- Phase 1 : Preperation
- Phase 2 : Force Deployment: 5-7 March
- Phase 3: Execution Phase: 12-23 March
Participating Countries, Types and Units
| Country | Type | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Greece | F-16 | 330/335/336/337/340/341/343/347 Mira |
| F4E | 338 Mira | |
| Mirage 2000 | 331/332 Mira | |
| EMB-145H AEW&C | 380 Mira | |
| United States | F-15E | 492 FS |
| Israel | F-16C | 117 Sqn |
| Cyprus | AW-139 | 2nd Platoon |
| United Kingdom | Typhoon FGR4 | 3 Sqn |
| United Arab Emirates | Mirage 2000-9 | 71 Sqn |
| Italy | Tornado | 6 Stormo |
Brief participation by the Israeli Air Force
While the most foreign participants stayed the full two weeks at Andravida to participate, four F-16C ( Barak) fighters, with beautiful desert colour schemes, belonging to the 117 sqn of the Israeli Air Force , participated briefly in the annual Iniohos exercise. The planes arrived at Andravida on the 19th of March and stayed until the 21st of March with a Beechcraft B200T “Zufit” and Gulfstream V “Nachshon Shavit” as support aircraft.
Exercise Objectives
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 that include multiple modern threats and real time live injects tailored to produce the fog of war and the friction effect (per Clausewitz) which is expected to dominate the modern battlefield and test both the physical and psychological endurance of the modern fighter.
Accurate Shot/Event Assessment:
This is achieved with the use of on-board and off board tracking data, sensors and specialized debriefing software which is leveraged for the reconstruction of the mission by experienced Fighter Weapons School instructors that oversee the debriefing process.
Missions
In order to achieve the objectives of the exercise, the air tactics center oversees the missions from scenario planning to debriefing and makes certain that they cover the full spectrum of missions currently performed by the Hellenic Air Force 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
Media Day
On Tuesday March 20th 2018, within the framework of the exercise , the briefing-presentation of the exercise took place, in the maintenance squadron hangar of the 117th combat wing, at Andravida Air Base, with representatives of Greek and international media. A lot of VIP’s attended this day, including Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff (HAFSG) Lt. General Christos Chrisdoulou and the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff ( HNDGS) Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis.
Ambassador Pyatt shaking hands with Minister of Nationel Defence Panos Kammenos
During the mediaday , the Ambassador PYATT from the United States in Greece was present and stated : “I am delighted to be back in Andravida and very proud that we have the U.S. Air Force again participating so significantly in Iniohos ’18. This has become an important multinational exercise with broad participation from across Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, which reflects our vision of Greece as a builder of bridges, as a pillar of regional stability. “
Looking towards the future
Lt. General Christos Christodoulou addressing his speech during the media day.
The Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lt. General Christos Christodoulou, stated: “ Nowadays we live in an unstable period, therefore, military power and especially air power, is certainly of utmost importance for the fulfillment of states’ and Alliances’ interests.The danger of escalation of a conflict, from regional to global, is always a major strategic concern. Especially, the uncertainty and constant changes in the Southeastern Mediterranean’s security situation make Collective Defense, Crisis Management and Cooperative Security of paramount importance for all of us.”
“Joint Air Power was and will remain a keystone element within NATO’s security strategy, and our alliances are most certainly ready to continue contributing to its excellence, he added”
It is becoming quiet again in the skies above Greece while the exercise INIOHOS 2018 has come to an end and all of the participating units returned to their home bases. With lots of lessons learned, pilots and units are again better prepared in case of participating in conflicts.
By participating in this exercise, they are ready to jointly take on the fight in whatever environment and scenario, all over the world.
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Danny currently works for the Ministry of Defence at Schiphol Airport. His passion towards military aviation started when he was 7 years old. His dad took him to Volkel airbase. There he saw a lot of F-16s flying and he got hooked. He has been active in aviation photography since 1993.
When he first began, he was using an analog film camera. After awhile he got his first digital Konica Minolta 7D. After a couple of years the camera needed to be replaced and he bought a Sony A700. In 2015, he purchased a Sony A77 while continuing to use A700 as a secondary camera.
Despite of having a busy job, and being interested in taking photographs, Danny recently started to put his talent to use as a photojournalist in military aviation.
Danny can be reached at: [email protected]