The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force. The exercise was conducted at the Andravida Air Base in Greece from 24 April 2023 to 4 May 2023. The Indian Air Force participated with four Su-30MKI’s and two C-17 aircraft. The objective of the exercise was to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability amongst the participating Air Forces. The exercise was conducted in a realistic combat scenario involving multiple types of air and surface assets. It also enabled the participating contingents to engage in professional interactions, providing valuable insight into each other's best practices. The Exercise was divided into three phases: Phase 1: Detachment Deployment, 18–23 April 2023; Phase 2: Execution Phase, 24 April–4 May 2023 and Phase 3: Force Redeployment, 5-7 May 2023. Planning, execution and debriefing of all missions was supervised by the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) Fighter Weapons School (FWS). The missions covered the full spectrum of air operations performed by HAF, such as Offensive Counter Air Operations (OCA), Defensive Counter Air Operations (DCA), Strategic Air Operations, Air Power Contribution to Counter-Land Operations (APCLO), Air Power Contribution to Maritime Operations (APCMO), RECCE, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Time Sensitive Target (TST) and High Value Airborne Asset (HVAA). During Iniochos 2023, the F-16 Tactical Simulators of the newly established HAF’s Synthetic Training Squadron were used for a number of missions, expanding Iniochos to the virtual world. 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. Austria participated with INTEL personnel and Canada with Air Battle Managers. The significant regional impact of Iniochos 2023 prompted the interest of a number of Nations which declared the intention to participate with observers, such as Bahrain, Germany, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovakia, Tunisia and UAE.
Iniochos 2023 participants
- 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 F-16s and MQ-9s
(All photos: IAF/HAF/Greek Embassy)