The NATO exercise Ramstein Flag 24 which is being held for the first time in Europe will be held in Greece.
With more than 140 Allied aircraft from 13 NATO Allies, the multinational exercise Ramstein Flag will provide high-quality training opportunities in a complex realistic operational environment. The Ramstein Flag 24 air exercise will involve 4th and 5th generation aircraft, including the F-35, F-16V, Rafale and others.
A focus of Ramstein Flag 2024 will be testing anti-access/area denial (A2AD) tactics . These may be needed when NATO pilots must combine the deterrent value of an air policing mission with the tactical value of real-world practice.
Exercise Ramstein Flag 24 will be held at Andravida Air Base from September 30 to October 11, 2024.
The symbolism in the Ramstein Flag 24 promo video
The Hellenic Air Force in the official promo video of the Ramstein Flag 24 exercise included images with special symbolism. The video shows the Monument to Lieutenant Nikos Sialmas in Agios Eustratios, with the shield of the Lacedaemonians and the historical phrase “Molon Lave”.
On June 18, 1992, Lieutenant Commander Nikos Sialmas crashed in the Aegean with the Mirage F1CG fighter aircraft of the 342nd All-Weather Squadron of the 114th Fighter Wing, during an interception mission of Turkish fighters, which had violated the National Air Space, in Aghios Efstratios sea region.
His heroic death earned him a place in the pantheon of Greek Heroes and Martyrs, who fell while on duty, defending the Greek skies.
Apart from this, Agios Efstratios is in an area of geostrategic interest for Greece which Turkey is targeting by issuing illegal Navtex, including it in the Turkish delusion of “Blue Homeland” and demilitarization of Greek islands in the Aegean.
It should be noted that Turkey’s insistence on not submitting flight plans for its fighter jets that would have flown in FIR Athens jurisdiction in order to participate in the major NATO exercise Ramstein Flag 2024 eventually led the neighbors to decide not to participate in the exercise.
Spotters day at Ramstein Flag 24
To improve interaction with friends of the aviation concept, as reported by the Hellenic Air Force General Staff (HAFGS), two Spotters days are planned for Ramstein Flag 2024 , on Tuesday October 1 and Tuesday October 8, 2024.
Photographers from all over the world will be able to photograph the warplanes.