The skies of Greece were a sight to behold in April as Iniochos 21, a Hellenic air force-sponsored annual air exercise, took place. Aircraft and crews from six countries participated in the exercise, offering a rare opportunity to see several different airframes fly together and against each other. Here are the platforms: Greece: F-16 Fighting […]
Greece
How much does each NATO nation spend on defense?
On DutyIn March, NATO released its annual defense expenditure report. The 29-country alliance requires every member-state to spend at least 2% percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense each year. Although the number appears insignificant at first sight, in reality, most countries have historically failed to hit it, a point that has spurred controversy […]
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower sails to Greece, maintains stability in the region
On DutyThe USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, leading Carrier Strike Group TWO, conducted a combined exercise with the Hellenic Navy in the Mediterranean Sea. The Hellenic Armed Forces participated in the exercise with the frigate HS Psara, two submarines, and several F-16 fighter jets. For the duration of the exercise, the HS Psara came under the tactical […]
Dynamic Manta 21: Taking anti-submarine warfare to the next level
Military AffairsDynamic Manta 21, the largest anti-submarine warfare exercise in Europe, is in full swing. Eight NATO members are participating in the exercise–Belgium, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the US. In total, the exercise will involve 11 major vessels, including one aircraft carrier (the French Charles de Gaulle CSG), five surface ships, five submarines, […]
American commandos and Greek Navy SEALs train in the Mediterranean
On DutyIn January, American commandos and Greek Navy SEALs trained together in a variety of complex special operations mission sets. A US Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) element and Greek SEALs from Greece and Cyprus honed their Over-the-Beach, Maritime Direct Action and Interdiction, and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) skills. This training event was just […]
American troops in Europe ready for anything
On DutyDuring the past few weeks, American troops in Europe have been conducting numerous conventional and special operations exercises throughout the continent. From Italy to Greece to Belgium to Sweden to Romania to Norway, American troops have been training with European and NATO allies, displaying a readiness for every threat that might come from the east. […]
