The Athens-Tel Aviv axis remains strong with Turkey as a spectator - In Israel the Greek "hawks" getting ready for the Blue Flag Air Force exercise

Translation/Gist by: Nickolaos Mavromates

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From today until October 28, the Greek "hawks" will be " stationed" in the "heart" of the Negev desert, in the great air force base of Israel getting ready in order to participate in the great air rendezvous namely the Blue Flag Airforce exercise.?

Four Greek F-16 block 52+ adv fighters from the 336 "OLYMPOS" Fighter Squadron landed early in the afternoon at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel. Along with them flew a C-130 of the Hellenic Air Force which carried personnel and equipment. The HAF once again in recent years is making a strong presence in one of the largest air exercises in the world and remains firmly in the "After Burning" mode thus continuing its impressive series of exercises and co-training both at home and abroad.?

From today until 28 October, i.e. for almost three weeks, the Greek "hawks" will be "stationed" in the "heart" of the Negev desert, one of Israel's great air force bases, in order to participate in the great air rendezvous. They will fly and train with the world's most powerful air forces and will be called upon once again to prove why they are part of the world's aviation "cream of the crop". With the most modern fighters currently available to the HAF - Rafale and Viper kits will raise the bar even higher in the near future - the Greek "hawks" will participate in one of the most demanding exercises hosted by the "veteran" pilots of the Israeli Air Force.

In this year's upgraded "Blue Flag", apart from Israel and Greece, the USA, France, UK, Germany, Italy and the Indian Air Force are participating as well in a presence with special symbolism. Ovda airbase will host some of the world's most modern fighters with the IAF flying F-16s, F-15s and F-35s. Rafale, Mirage, Tornado and Eurofighter are likely to be there while it is unknown as yet with which aircraft the Indians will participate with the possibility of seeing Russian SU-30s in Israel remaining open.

Year after year the Hellenic Air Force with its continuous participation in the "Blue Flag" creates a tradition of presence in this?great military exercise while the open invitation from the Israelis is the strongest vote of confidence for?the Greek "wings". Certificates of competence have been filed in Israel in recent years by the "Tigers" of 335, the "Foxes" of 340, and the "Ghosts" of 337, among others. Every year the exercise, as the Greek pilots report, becomes more and more difficult as the organizers introduce new complex combat scenarios and the presence of the Israeli F-35s alone is enough to raise the level of requirements.?

The presence of Greece and that of HAF in this major exercise has been "locked" for many months and is another strong proof of the excellent military relations between the two countries. Besides, the IAF also gave a similar resounding presence in the last impressive ?INIOCHOS? Hellenic military exercise. With six F-16i SUFA fighters from the 107 Fighter Squadron "Knights of the Orange Tail", six F-15i "Ra'am" from the 69 Fighter Squadron "Hammers", a KC-707 "Reem" flying tanker and a G-550 flying radar. It was one of the largest missions Israel has participated in an exercise outside the country.?

The Chief of the General Staff, Vice Admiral George Blioomis, is expected to visit Israel on October 26 to attend the VIP DV DAY while the Israelis are also organizing a Press Day on October 20.

(PS: Exercise “INIOCHOS” is an annual medium scale exercise (type INVITEX) based on the facilities of the AIR TACTICS CENTER at the Andravida Air Base, located in the Northwest Peloponnese. The duration of the exercise is 15 calendar days and operations make use of the majority of Athena FIR. The Exercise scenario adopts a Single Base Concept (execution of operations from a single Air Base), with the participation of all branches of the Armed Forces)