On Friday, October 11, 2024, the “Ramstein Flag 2024” exercise concluded, marking the first time it was held in Greece.
The exercise began on Monday, September 30, 2024, with Andravida Air Base serving as the main hosting Unit, from where the majority of foreign mission fighter aircraft operated. The fighter jets of the Hellenic Air Force were primarily based at Araxos Air Base.
In the “Ramstein Flag” exercise, twelve countries participated, including Canada with C-150, France with Rafale fighter jets and Airborne Early Warning (AEW) E-3F, Greece with F-16, Rafale, Mirage 2000-5, and F-4E, Hungary with Gripen, Italy with F-35, Eurofighter, KC-767, and MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Poland with F-16, Portugal with F-16, Romania with F-16, Spain with Typhoon, Sweden with Gripen, the United Kingdom with RC-135, the United States with F-35 and KC-135, and NATO with AEW E-3A and AGS UAS, completing more than 1,100 sorties in the Athens FIR.
Additionally, Forces from the Hellenic Army, Navy, and Special Warfare Command played a key role in creating complex and realistic scenarios.
During the exercise, all types of air missions were carried out, with an emphasis on Counter Anti-Access/Area Denial, Integrated Air and Missile Defence, and Joint Engagement Zone Operations, Dynamic Targeting, Composite Air Operations, Air-to-Air Refueling, and Photo Exercise, under an intense combat pace, day and night. These missions covered the full spectrum of modern air operations within a series of highly realistic, complex scenarios, in collaboration with Ground-Based Air Defense Systems and Surface Assets.
