The Italian delegation, led by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, air squad general Enzo Vecciarelli, was received by the air squad general Aldo Schellenberg, commander of the Swiss Air Force.
The meetings, held in an atmosphere of great cordiality, proved to be particularly important and harbingers of further ideas for cooperation between the two Air Forces and were deliberately organized during the course, in Davos, of the World Economic Forum - WEF (17-20 January). It was thus possible to see, analyze and discuss the security arrangements implemented, with particular regard to air defense, to which the Air Force also contributed.
General Vecciarelli underlined the importance of a strengthened cooperation between the two Aeronautics that can explore every possible area aimed at increasing the security level of the respective countries with respect to potential air threats.
In this perspective, activities aimed at increasing interoperability and mutual knowledge of the respective Air Forces, including the APEX exercises (Air Policing Exercise) so-called Ferrari-India that aim to coordinate and synchronize the Air Defense activities of the two countries near the national borders, for the tactical management of a hijacked aircraft, in a bilateral cooperation and reciprocity regime. The finalization of agreements aimed at facilitating interoperability and air supply capacity was also agreed (Air-To-Air Refueling AAR) between Swiss and F / A-18 assets Tanker Italian KC-767 and reiterated the need to carry out type-based activities Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT).
The occasion was propitious to visit the air base of Sion (in operational readiness for the WEF security frame with assets, among others, F / A-18 Hornet and F-5E Tiger II), a site Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) for anti-aircraft defense dedicated to the WEF and theAir Operation Center of Dubendorf from where all the air defense of the event is managed and controlled.
