Sukhoi fighters to participate in INICHOS 2025
New Delhi: The multinational air wargame Inichos 2025, being hosted by the Hellenic Air Force, has begun at Andravida airbase in Greece from March 31, wherein Indian Air Force joined the exercise with Russian-origin Sukhoi fighters, combat enabler IL-78 and transport aircraft C-17 aircraft.
A biennial multinational air exercise, Inichos 2025, which serves as a platform for air forces to hone their skills, exchange tactical knowledge, and strengthen military ties, will culminate on April 11.
As India Sentinels earlier reported, in 2023, the IAF contingent participated in the exercise with four Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets and two C-17 Globemaster III heavy-lift strategic aircraft.
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The exercise will integrate multiple air and surface assets from 15 countries under realistic combat scenarios, designed to simulate modern-day air warfare challenges
Indian Air Force Spokesperson Wing Commander Jaideep Singh said that the IAF looks forward to participating in exercise Inichos 2025, a platform to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability among participating Air Forces.
Exercise Inichos 2025 will provide an opportunity to train in planning and executing Combined Air operations, refine tactics in complex air warfare scenarios, and gain insights into operational best practices.
With all operations conducted from Andravida, IAF's participation will not only strengthen its operational capabilities but also contribute to mutual learning and enhanced coordination among participating countries.
“IAF's participation in Inichos-25 reflects its commitment to global defence cooperation and operational excellence. The exercise will further reinforce India's strategic partnerships-and bolster its capabilities in joint operations with friendly nations,” Wing Commander Jaideep Singh said.
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The exercise is named after the statue of Charioteer of Delphi, also known as Heniokhos (or Iniochos), which in Greek means “holder of reins”. Being organized by the Hellenic Air Force – one of the largest Nato air forces – at the Andravida Air Base, which is also the HAF’s Air Tactics Centre.
The Nato actively helps Greece in conducting this annual air-combat drill, which has attracted the air forces of many countries in recent years, including non-Nato countries.
The "Inichos" Exercise was first conducted in the late 1980s, as a small scale tactical level exercise, tailored to the contemporary necessity for training in combined air operations in accordance with the Hellenic Air Force Doctrine. Over the next years, the success of the exercise led to the decision on establishing it as an annual event.
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The exercise objective was to train personnel in planning and execution of Combined Air Operations (COMAO) in accordance with the HAF Doctrine and National Plans in a realistic environment, in order to test and evaluate operational plans and tactics.
Countries and their fighters participating in Iniochos 2025
France with Mirage 2000, India with SU-30, Israel with G-550, Italy with Tornado, Montenegro with B-412, Poland with F-16, Qatar with F-15, Slovenia with 2 PC-9, Spain with F-18, UAE with M-2000/9, and the USA with F-16, KC-46 and KC-135.
Additionally, Cyprus is taking part with supporting personnel, while Slovakia and Bahrain have sent 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,” an officer from Hellenic Air Force said.
