Multinational air-exercise INIOCHOS-23 begins in Greece

New Delhi: The multinational air-exercise INIOCHOS-23 began at the Andravida Air Base in Greece on April 24, 2023. The Indian Air Force is participating with four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft.

The exercise is being hosted by the Hellenic Air Force, and will continue till May 4. The exercise involves NATO countries like USA, France and Italy and others like Jordan and Saudi Arabia. 

The objective of INIOCHOS-23 is to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability amongst the participating Air Forces. The exercise will be conducted in a realistic combat scenario involving multiple types of air and surface assets.  

It will also enable the participating contingents to engage in professional interactions, providing valuable insight into each other's best practices. 

The Exercise paves the way for India Ito expand its connectivity with the Mediterranean and Southern Europe through Greece. It will give Indian Air Force an opportunity to test the Sukhoi-30 against the F-16. 

The Exercise will also be a learning experience for friendly Western countries like France to test their Rafales against the Sukhoi and the Italians to pit their Tornadoes. The Greeks have over a hundred of the F-16Cs, the more improved version than the slightly older versions the PAF mostly has. 

Indo-Greek ties have been improving in recent years. The Greeks have not sold Pakistan the batteries it needs for it's submarines. Greece is also wary of Pakistan as it is close to Turkey, a major rival. And the Turks have given Pakistan Navy submarines a midlife upgrade and are selling corvettes and other weapons. 

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