Ramstein flag 24: NATO’s largest Air Force exercise held in Andravida
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Since Monday, September 30, NATO’s “air heartbeat” has been centered at the 117th Combat Wing of the Hellenic Air Force. For the first time in Europe, the NATO.
A striking element of the exercise is NATO’s official video, featuring footage of the island of Ai Stratis, home to a monument for fallen pilot Nikos Salmas, who died in 1992 during an air battle with a Turkish F-16. The exercise symbolically highlights Greece’s role in safeguarding its airspace.
The Importance of the Exercise
The goal of “Ramstein Flag 24,” as stated by U.S. General James B. Hecker, is to ensure that allied forces are trained to maintain air superiority. The exercise is designed to improve decision-making capabilities in complex, dynamic operational environments, reinforcing cooperation and interoperability among NATO members.
Participating aircraft include F-35s from the U.S. and Italy, French Rafales and Mirage 2000-5s, Gripens from Sweden and Hungary, Eurofighter Typhoons, U.S. F-18s, and F-16s from various countries, along with NATO and French AWACS planes. The exercise also involved naval and special forces, including air refueling support from Canadian aircraft based in Preveza and British ISR aircraft from Souda Bay, Crete.
Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD)
