National Air Operations Center

The National Air Operations Center (Greek: Εθνικό Κέντρο Αεροπορικών Επιχειρήσεων, ΕΚΑΕ) is the Hellenic Air Force organization responsible for the planning, tasking, coordination and supervision of tactical air operations across the Greek Armed Forces, in both peacetime and wartime. It is subordinate to the Hellenic Air Force Tactical Air Command (Αρχηγείο Τακτικής Αεροπορίας, ΑΤΑ) and is headquartered at Larissa Air Base in central Greece. The Center's origins lie in studies conducted between 1975 and 1981 as part of the modernization of the Hellenic Air Force. In 2007 it became an independent wing of the Tactical Air Command. In 2015 it relocated to the former NATO headquarters at Koutsohero, Larissa, and in 2023, by decision of the Supreme Air Council, its headquarters moved to Larissa Air Base, where it remains today. Its mission covers the full spectrum of tactical air operations for all air units of the Greek Armed Forces. During the monitoring of operational flights such as aeromedical evacuations, the Center cooperates with the Hellenic Air Force General Staff's Operations Center (ΓΕΑ/ΚΕΠΙΧ) and the Air Force Support Command's Operations Center (ΔΑΥ/ΚΕΠΙΧ), using the Air Control and Picture System to track aircraft. In coordination with the relevant authorities, it informs crews of possible changes in security or weather conditions. The Center is housed in an underground command facility at Larissa Air Base. The installations are reported to have specifications that would make them resistant even to a nuclear strike. As a military command rather than a commercial enterprise, it operates as a state-owned entity within the Hellenic Air Force structure.

The National Air Operations Center (ΕΚΑΕ) traces its conceptual origins to studies carried out between 1975 and 1981, during a period of modernization for the Hellenic Air Force. These studies aimed to create a centralized body for the planning and coordination of tactical air operations. In 2007, the Center became an independent wing of the Hellenic Air Force Tactical Air Command (ΑΤΑ), formalizing its role within the air force structure. In 2015, it was relocated to the former NATO headquarters at Koutsohero, Larissa. In 2023, by decision of the Supreme Air Council (Ανώτατο Αεροπορικό Συμβούλιο), its headquarters was moved to Larissa Air Base, where it remains today. The Center's mission is the planning, tasking, coordination and supervision of tactical air operations for all air units of the Greek Armed Forces, in peacetime and wartime. It cooperates with the Hellenic Air Force General Staff's Operations Center (ΓΕΑ/ΚΕΠΙΧ) and the Air Force Support Command's Operations Center (ΔΑΥ/ΚΕΠΙΧ) for monitoring operational flights such as aeromedical evacuations, using the Air Control and Picture System. It also informs crews of changes in security or weather conditions in coordination with relevant authorities. The Center is housed in an underground command facility at Larissa Air Base, reportedly built to specifications that would make it resistant even to a nuclear strike.

• 2023

  By decision of the Supreme Air Council, the Center's headquarters moves to Larissa Air Base.

• 2015

  The Center relocates to the former NATO headquarters at Koutsohero, Larissa.

• 2007

  The Center becomes an independent wing of the Hellenic Air Force Tactical Air Command (ΑΤΑ).

• 1981

  Studies for the Center's creation conclude.

• 1975

  Studies begin for the creation of the Center as part of Hellenic Air Force modernization.

Military tactical air operations command of the Hellenic Air Force

1. 1National Air Operations Center - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Εθνικό Κέντρο Αεροπορικών Επιχειρήσεων (Ελλάδα) - Wikipediael.wikipedia.org
3. 3Hellenic Air Force - National Air Operations Centerhaf.gr