Exercise Iniochos 2020, Andravida AFB, Greece

Various types of combat aircraft gathered in an amazing shot taken on the occasion of a previous Iniochos exercise. 
(Photo Credit HAF).

The INIOCHOS 2020 (or Iniohos 2020) exercise will take place at Andravida Air Base, Greece, from 11 to 22 May. It is a well-known annual medium scale exercise (type INVITEX) based on the Single Base Concept (execution of operations from a single Air Base), with the participation of all branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces with the addition of foreign participants.

Every year hundreds of spotters from all over Europe came to Andravida to participate in the Spotter Days which are usually included in the exercise. They offer the opportunity to take photos of all the great participants involved from a single location. Unfortunately this year INIOCHOS will take place on the same dates as NATO Tiger Meet 2020 and there may be an overlap of the dates of the events reserved for spotters, presumably 14 and 15 May.

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 and with increasing interest for participation by other countries. Last year it included fifth generation aircraft for the first time when Italy sent a squadron of F-35A aircraft.

To date, HAF has not yet published the list of foreign aircraft involved in INIOCHOS 2020, however it will offer one of the last opportunities to admire the Greek Phantoms that will be decommissioned in a few years.

Written by Matteo Sanzani