1st Army Aviation Brigade (Greece)

The 1st Army Aviation Brigade "Kilkis-Lachanas" (Greek: 1η Ταξιαρχία Αεροπορίας Στρατού «ΚΙΛΚΙΣ ΛΑΧΑΝΑ», romanized: 1 Taxiarchia Aeroporias Stratou "Kilkis Lachana", abbreviated 1η ΤΑΞΑΣ) is the main formation of the Hellenic Army's Army Aviation.

1st Army Aviation Brigade
1η Ταξιαρχία Αεροπορίας Στρατού
Camp flag of the 1st Army Aviation Brigade
Active1950-present
Country Greece
Branch Hellenic Army
TypeArmy aviation
RoleAerial reconnaissance
Air assault
Airlift
Airstrike
Anti-tank warfare
Close air support
Combat search and rescue
Fire support
ISTAR
Medical evacuation
Search and rescue
SIGINT
Support special operations
Tactical communications
Size6 helicopter battalions
2 support battalions
Part of1st Infantry Division
NATO Response Force
Balkan Battlegroup
Garrison/HQStefanovikeio, Thessaly
Motto(s)The zeal for freedom does not die
ΟΥ ΘΝΑΣΚΕΙ ΖΑΛΟΣ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑΣ
Ou thnaski zalos eleftherias

History

In August, 1950, the first Αrmy Aviation unit was created, belonging to Artillery, the 190th Air Observation Unit, based at Megara airport. Also, few years later, a special Air Observation School was created in order to provide training, in parallel with the establishment of other support units. At that time, the unit's main activities included target detection for Artillery units and light transportation.

One of the most important dates was 1961, when the first helicopters, the Bell 47G, were delivered, marking the eve of new era, that of air assault and medium transportation. The modernization continued with the acquisition of Bell UH-1 Iroquoises in 1969, Boeing CH-47 Chinooks in 1981 and recently with the delivery of the Boeing AH-64D Apache and NHIndustries NH90.

With the continuous growth of the Hellenic Army Aviation combat arm, the 1st Army Aviation Brigade was founded in 1998 to encompass its various units.[1] Since 2013, the brigade is subordinated to the First Army via the 1st Infantry Division. The brigade's headquarters is at Stefanovikeio.[1]

The brigade bears the honorific title "Kilkis Lachanas", in commemoration of the Battle of Kilkis–Lachanas during the Second Balkan War.[2]

The brigade's motto ΟΥ ΘΝΑΣΚΕΙ ΖΑΛΟΣ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΑΣ ("The zeal for freedom does not die") is an epigram written by Antiphilus of Byzantium about the warrior king Leonidas of Sparta.[3]

Structure
Greek Apache helicopter near Xanthi
  • at brigade headquarters at Stefanovikeio, Thessaly:[4]
    • Headquarters Company
    • 17th Signal Company (17 ΛΔΒ)
    • 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion (1o ΤΕΕΠ)
    • 2nd Attack Helicopter Battalion (2o ΤΕΕΠ)
    • 1st Army Aviation Battalion (1o ΤΕΑΣ)
    • 1st Airfield Support Battalion (1ο ΤΥΑΔ)
    • 307th Technical Support Group (307 TYΠ)
  • 2nd Army Aviation Regiment (2ο ΣΥΑΣ), based at Megara, Attica[4]
    • Signal Company
    • 2nd Army Aviation Battalion (2ο ΤΕΑΣ)
    • 4th Army Aviation Battalion (4ο ΤΕΑΣ)
    • 2nd Airfield Support Battalion (2ο ΤΥΑΔ)
  • at Alexandreia, Macedonia[4]
    • 3rd Army Aviation Battalion (3ο ΤΕΑΣ)

References
  1. "1η Ταξιαρχία Αεροπορίας Στρατού (1η ΤΑΞΑΣ): Ιστορικά Στοιχεία" (in Greek). Hellenic Army General Staff. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  2. "1η Ταξιαρχία Αεροπορίας Στρατού (1η ΤΑΞΑΣ): Έμβλημα 1ης ΤΑΞΑΣ «ΚΙΛΚΙΣ ΛΑΧΑΝΑ»" (in Greek). Hellenic Army General Staff. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  3. "1η Ταξιαρχία Αεροπορίας Στρατού (1η ΤΑΞΑΣ): Έμβλημα 1ης ΤΑΞΑΣ «ΚΙΛΚΙΣ ΛΑΧΑΝΑ»" (in Greek). Hellenic Army General Staff. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. "1η Τα ξιαρχία Αεροπορίας Στρατού (1η ΤΑΞΑΣ): Οργάνωση" (in Greek). Hellenic Army General Staff. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
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