Intense military activity over the Ionian Sea this morning.
While a NATO Boeing E-3A (reg. LX-N90445) took off from Preveza AB and is currently orbiting over Calabria, some USAF F-16C (only one visible, the 88-0532) departed from Aviano AB, conducted a mission, and aerial refueling alongside a USAF Boeing KC-135R (reg. 62-3512) that took off from Athens.
Most likely, these missions are related to the INIOCHOS 2024 exercise (from Andravida AB in the north western Peloponnese).
INIOCHOS 2024 involves a large number of Hellenic Air Force 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.
It is worth to be mentioned that, the number of the fighter aircraft and helicopter of the participating countries is the largest so far in the exercise INIOCHOS.