Iniochos 2025 - In the canyon - Catalin Oprea's Hobby Station

Between March 25th and 28th, 2025, I was tracking low-flying fighter jets through the rugged canyons of the Peloponnese, Greece—a location that has become iconic for aviation photography, especially during the multinational exercise Iniochos 2025.

Organized by the Hellenic Air Force (HAF), Iniochos 2025 was the largest edition of the exercise to date, bringing together 12 participating nations and over 1,300 missions flown across Greek airspace.

The aircraft—ranging from F-16Cs and Mirage 2000-5s to Su-30MKIs, Tornado IDS/ECRs, F-15QAs, and E/F-18Ms—performed low-level passes, high-G turns, and terrain-following maneuvers, sometimes just meters above the ridgelines. All of this unfolded under complex tactical scenarios, including Offensive and Defensive Counter Air (OCA/DCA), Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), and Time Sensitive Targeting (TST) missions.

The photographic conditions were spectacular: dramatic light shifts, fast-moving clouds, and richly layered landscapes. For the gear, it was heaven. For the photographers—not so much. We endured biting winds, sudden downpours, blinding sunbursts, and dense mist rising from the Aegean. Long hours spent on jagged rocks and steep climbs only added to the challenge.

Was it worth it? I’ll let the images speak for themselves.