The Royal Saudi Air Force participated in the mixed combat air exercise “INIOCHOS 2024”, which will be carried out at the Air Warfare Center in the Republic of Greece next April, with the participation of a number of brotherly and friendly countries, according to Saudi Newspaper “Sabq”.
The Commander of the Air Forces, Lieutenant General Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, reviewed the preparations of the air force group participating in the exercise, before leaving the King Fahd Al-Jawha base in the western sector.
His Highness listened to a briefing from the commander of the participating air force group about the preparations and readiness of human resources and systems. He met with the participants and urged them to make an effort and benefit from the exercise. He also stressed the best representation of their country.
On this occasion, the Commander of the Air Forces confirmed that the “INIOCHOS 2024” exercise is one of the largest exercises on the European continent, while the Air Force is participating with six “Typhoon” aircraft with all their air, technical and support crews.
His Highness said that the Air Force’s participation in the exercise aims to raise the level of combat readiness and efficiency, exchange and gain experience for air, technical and support crews in a war environment similar to real war, and train to plan and carry out complex air operations in an environment composed of mixed multinational forces.
In recent years, the air forces of France, Israel, Italy, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States, among others, participated in this exercise with a great selection of combat aircraft.
Participants
INIOCHOS 2024 will involve a large number of HAF assets, such as fighters, including Rafale and F-16 Viper, Air Defence Systems, helicopters, transport and training aircraft. Additionally, Hellenic Army, Navy and Special Operations assets and personnel will contribute significantly to the creation of complex and realistic scenarios across the exercise areas which spread over the Greek mainland and seas.
Furthermore, in INIOCHOS 2024 a significant number of allies, partners and friends will participate with air assets, such as:
- Cyprus with an AW139 Helicopter
- France with Rafales and E-3F
- Montenegro with an B-414 Helicopter
- Qatar with Rafales
- Romania with F-16s
- Saudi Arabia with Eurofighters
- Spain with EF-18s
- UK with Eurofighters
- USA with F-16s and MQ-9s
Additionally, Austria and Portugal will participate with INTEL personnel and Special Forces while Germany will send a group of Observers.
The participating countries in Exercise INIOCHOS have contributed the largest number of fighter aircraft and helicopters to date. With the professionalism of HAF personnel and their ability to organize realistic exercises across diverse terrain, INIOCHOS stands as a major air exercise in Europe and the Mediterranean, offering high-level training and a unique participation experience.
Overview INIOCHOS 2024
“INIOCHOS” is an annual medium scale exercise (type INVITEX) based on the facilities of the AIR TACTICS CENTER at the Andravida Air Base, located in the Northwest Peloponnese.
The duration of the exercise is 15 calendar days and operations make use of the majority of Athena FIR. 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.
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 and National Plans in a realistic environment, in order to test and evaluate operational plans and tactics.
For the execution and conduction of the Exercise, the Hellenic Fighter Weapons School was deployed to Larissa, so as to form the White Cell in the facilities of the National Center for Air Operations. The White Cell was responsible for the optimal coordination. The participating Aircrafts were also deployed to Larissa, at 110CW, from where they launched for their missions.
In 2005, the exercise decentralized, with aircraft operating from their bases and planning and coordination occurring at the Air Tactics Center and Fighter Weapons School in Andravida Air Force Base, using new command and control methods.
In November 2013, the decision was made to adopt a Single Base Concept, upgrading the exercise scale to medium the spectrum of operations.
Furthermore, in April 2015, the exercise is being held for the first time in the form of INVITEX (Invitation Exercise), with the participation of the IAF and the USAFE Special Forces (SOF) as JTAC.
Since the first INVITEX in 2015, Iniochos exercise has attracted participation from USAFE, Israel Defense Forces, the United Arab Emirates Air Force, and the Italian Air Force.
“INIOCHOS” aims to be the most competitive in Europe and the Mediterranean, offering high-level training and a unique experience by utilizing the skills of HAF personnel and various weapon systems in one of Europe’s largest exercise areas.
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