On Friday, August 26, 2022, upon the request of NATO Air Command (NATO AIRCOM), during its flight in the framework of the Inter-Alliance Operation “ONYX SWING”, a B-52 Strategic Bomber of the US Bomber Task Force carried out joint interception, close air support and escort training with the Hellenic Armed Forces in the Athens FIR.

After entering the Skopje FIR, the B-52 was received by a pair of Hellenic Air Force F-16 fighter jets, which executed an escort mission within the Athens FIR, conducting operational training during the flight in the region west of the Peloponnese. The said training focused on High-Value Asset (HVA) protection and took place with the participation of a pair of Italian Eurofighter Typhoons.

According to Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), upon completion of the above operational training, and accompanied by another pair of Greek F-16s, a Close Air Support (CAS) exercise was carried out with the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), with the participation of personnel and assets of the newly established Special Warfare Command of HNDGS. Afterwards, the pair of Greek F-16s escorted the B-52 westwards until it exited the Athens FIR.

This allied activity, jointly planned by HNDGS, NATO AIRCOM, and the Italian Armed Forces, takes place for the third time in a short period of time. The exercise was executed once again with excellent results, demonstrating inter-allied cohesion and solidarity and contributing to upgrading the multi-level military synergy of the Armed Forces of the NATO Member-States. Finally, the exercise promotes the level of operational readiness, combat capability, interoperability, and cooperation of the participants in an allied context.

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