IKE CSG in joint exercise with Hellenic Air Force and Navy
The Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is currently participating in a joint exercise with the Air Force and Navy of Greece in the Mediterranean Sea.
The joint operations started on Jul. 24 and will end today. Hellenic Navy frigate HN Aegean (FFGH 460) joined the CSG as an air defense unit, locating and identifying air contacts around the task force.
Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) conducted day and night bombing practices at the Greek Karavia Range. Aircrews were able to fire unguided and guided rockets and drop laser training rounds at the range. To make the training more realistic, the navy fighters had to fight their way to the target against Hellenic F-16s.
“Being able to practice air-to-air combat with a foreign partner and then immediately transition to an air-to-ground weapons release is what flying the F/A-18 is all about,” said a CVW-3 department head.
