08
Iniochos Excercise by Rich Cooper
Each spring, a corner of the eastern Mediterranean becomes one of the most compelling targets for aviation photographers, with a backdrop of beautiful scenery that’ s peppered with modern air combat training. Hosted by the HAF at Andravida Air Base, Exercise‘ Iniochos’ consistently brings together a varied mix of air arms, aircraft types and operational philosophies.‘ Iniochos’ has been run by the HAF Air Tactics Center for a long time – since the late 1980s in fact – and has grown steadily from a regional event into one of Europe’ s most relevant multinational air exercises since a change of format in 2013. Not only has the event built in military stature, but
also in the high regard of the travelling aviation photography community. It should be no surprise that the 2025 edition delivered again, both operationally and photographically.
Sure, there’ s lots of exercises out there, but what sets‘ Iniochos’ apart is not‘ just another Ex’. It deliberately blends frontline training with complex geography and layered missions … As well as some very, very cool participants.
For photographers, it remains one of the few exercises where opportunities exist to shoot modern jets in live-side flight operations as well as catching them in the low-level flight regime.
126