The multinational air exercise “Iniochos 23” and the international exercise Special Forces – “Orian 23” Special Operations Forceswith the participation of Greek and foreign Armed Forces personnel and media and the execution of complex and particularly demanding scenarios, began today, Monday, April 24.

As announced by GEETHA, the following Armed Forces are participating in the “Iniochos 23” exercise:

– From the Army, AH-64A, OH-58D, UH-1H and CH-47D helicopters, communications, electronic warfare and electronic surveillance systems and means, vehicles and tanks, as well as anti-aircraft systems.

– From the Navy, frigates, fast guided missile patrols, tankers, gunboats, fast transport ships, general support ships as well as S-70B helicopters.

– From the Air Force, Rafale, Mirage 2000-5, F-16 Block 30, Block 50, Block 52, Block 52+ Advanced and Viper fighter jets, F-4, EMB – 145H Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft, non HERON manned UAV, C-27 and C-130 transport aircraft, Super Puma AS-332 Search-Rescue helicopters as well as anti-aircraft systems.

– From the newly created GEETHA Special Warfare Command, terminal fire control teams, combat rescue teams of the Search and Rescue Operations Squadron and landing forces of the 32nd Marine Brigade.

The “Iniochos” exercise series has been held every year since 2013 with ever-increasing participation from friendly and allied countries, the statement added.

During this year’s exercise, complex interdisciplinary operational scenarios will be implemented with missions of escalating difficulty in an electronic warfare and multi-threat environment.

International exercise “Orion 23”

In parallel with “Hiniochos 23”, the exercise of Special Forces – Special Operations Forces “Orion 23” is being considered for the second time.

This particular exercise is taking place for the 6th time, with the first taking place in 2018.

According to the announcement, joint exercises have been planned in complex operational objects, with typical examples being penetration into enemy territory with a free-fall jump, clearing an enemy coast, directing aviation and artillery fire and directing fire in Close Air Support missions. Support -CAS).

The difficulty and complexity of the scenarios that are implemented, the announcement emphasizes, in combination with the continuous quality upgrade of the Special Forces – Special Operations Forces of Greece, has attracted the increasing interest in the participation of Special Operations Forces from other countries.

During “Orian 23”, a scenario has been chosen that envisages the formation of a Departmental Special Operations Command to which a Land Special Operations Department and a Naval Special Operations Department with the respective Special Operations Teams will be subordinated, in order to carry out missions covering the entire spectrum of Special Operations Forces.

On the Greek side, the following are participating:

– From the Army, AH-64A, OH-58D, NH-90, UH-1H and CH-47D helicopters.

– From the Navy, general support ships, S-70B helicopters, MARK V unorthodox warfare vessels, high-speed vessels, Special Operations type RHIB-11 as well as personnel and through the Underwater Disaster Management.

– From the Air Force, fighter aircraft to perform Close Air Support missions and transport aircraft to perform jump and combat rescue missions.

– From the GEETHA Special Warfare Command, Special Operations Teams from the 7th Amphibious Assault Squadron, the Parachute Special Section and the Naval Special Operations Section, personnel and assets (CH-47D and NH-90 helicopters) from the Air Special Operations Unit as well as personnel from the 865th Airlift Battalion.

– From the Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard, personnel and from the Underwater Missions Unit.

– From the Greek Police, personnel and through the Special Repressive Anti-Terrorist Unit.

The parallel conduct of the two exercises, in combination with the interaction between the three Branches of the Armed Forces, the Special Warfare Command of the GEETHA and the Special Units of the Security Forces, as well as with the particularly increased number of participating personnel and media from foreign countries, make the said combined operational training is unique in its kind and demonstrate the high level of synergies provided by the Armed Forces while at the same time highlighting the added value of Greece as a pillar of security and stability in the wider Balkan and Mediterranean region, concludes the GEETHA announcement.