Italian and Greek Fighters Conduct Joint DACT Drills Over Central Mediterranean, Strengthening NATO Southern Air Interoperability

Italian Air Force F-35s and Eurofighters trained alongside Greek F-16 Vipers and Rafales during two joint exercises held on April 23 and April 30 inside the Athens and Rome FIRs.

The drills, focused on Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT), highlighted the growing operational integration between Italy and Greece at a time of increasing strategic attention on the Eastern Mediterranean and NATO’s southern flank.
The exercises involved advanced fourth- and fifth-generation fighters operating together in complex air combat scenarios designed to improve interoperability and combat readiness.

The Hellenic Air Force deployed F-16 Vipers from the 335 Squadron of the 116th Fighter Wing and Rafales from the 332 Squadron of the 114th Fighter Wing. Italy contributed both EF-2000 Eurofighters and F-35s from the Italian Air Force, creating a highly diverse training environment combining different sensors, doctrines, and combat approaches.
Advanced Fighter Integration Across Two FIRs.

The joint activities took place inside both the Athens and Rome Flight Information Regions (FIRs), effectively linking the operational airspaces of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean.
This geographical dimension matters strategically because it reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of NATO air operations in the region, where rapid coordination between allied air forces has become essential.
DACT missions are specifically designed to expose pilots to aircraft with different flight performances, radar capabilities, and engagement tactics. In this case, the mix was particularly notable: upgraded Greek F-16 Vipers equipped with AESA radar systems, French-built Rafales, Italian Eurofighters, and stealth-capable F-35s all operated within the same training architecture.

For Italy, the exercise also provided another opportunity to integrate fourth-generation and fifth-generation assets in realistic scenarios. For Greece, it reinforced operational familiarity with NATO partners while showcasing the HAF’s increasingly modernized fighter fleet following recent Rafale acquisitions and F-16 Viper upgrades.

In recent months, NATO’s southern flank has regained strategic importance due to instability stretching from North Africa to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea region.

Air forces operating in Southern Europe are increasingly expected to coordinate across long distances while maintaining readiness for both deterrence and rapid response missions.

The Italy-Greece axis is particularly relevant because both countries control critical air and maritime access routes between the Eastern Mediterranean and continental Europe. Joint exercises involving advanced fighters therefore serve not only as pilot training but also as operational rehearsals for coalition air operations.

The participation of F-35s is especially significant. Fifth-generation aircraft are increasingly acting as information-sharing nodes capable of supporting legacy fighters through sensor fusion and battlespace awareness.

Integrating those capabilities with Greek F-16 Vipers and Rafales may become increasingly important during future NATO exercises or real-world contingency operations.

(via HAF spokeman)