Exercise “INIOCHOS” is an annual medium scale exercise based on the facilities of the AIR TACTICS CENTER at the Andravida Air Base, located in the Northwest Peloponnese. The “INIOCHOS” Exercise was first conducted in the late 1980s, as a small scale tactical level exercise, tailored to the contemporary necessity for training in combined air operations in accordance with the Hellenic Air Force Doctrine. Over the next years, the success of the exercise led to the decision on establishing it as an annual event. The exercise objective was to train personnel in planning and execution of Combined Air Operations (COMAO) in accordance with the HAF Doctrine. In 2005, the Exercise was decentralized, thus the participating Aircrafts were operating from their mother bases. 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.

 

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 which 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 onboard 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, who oversee the debriefing process.

In order to achieve the objectives of the 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:

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

 

Iniochos 2023 involved a large number of HAF assets, such as fighters, including the recently acquired RAFALE, Air Defence Systems, helicopters, transport and training aircraft.

Additionally, Hellenic Army, Navy and Special Operations assets and personnel contributed significantly to the creation of complex and realistic scenarios across the exercise areas which spread over the Greek mainland and seas.

Iniochos 2023 had the following participants with air assets:

  • Cyprus with an AW139 Helicopter
  • France with Rafales
  • India with Su-30
  • Italy with Tornados
  • Jordan with F-16s
  • Saudi Arabia with F-15s
  • Slovenia with PC-9s
  • Spain with EF-18s
  • USA with MQ-9s

Additionally, Austria participated with INTEL personnel and Canada with Air Battle Managers.