"Scramble" on Italian skies

23/06/15

Two Eurofighter fighters of the Italian Air Force, on alert in the national territory, took to the air on Tuesday 16 June shortly after the 21 hours: 00 from the Gioia Del Colle airbase, site of the 36 ° Stomo, to verify the possible threat from a missed radio contact.

Once in the area concerned, the fighters identified the airplane as a civilian Gulfstream CL5T aircraft.

The immediate take-off order - in technical "scramble" jargon - was given by the CAOC (Combined Air Operation Center) of Torrejon, a NATO body responsible for the area, in coordination with the Poggio Renatico Air Operations Command (AOC) and the Armed Forces bodies appointed to oversee national airspace

The mission was then managed by the operating room of the Licola AM Radar Group.

The Air Force provides surveillance of the national air space 365 days a year, 24 hours on 24, with an integrated defense system, since the time of peace, with that of other countries belonging to NATO. The service is guaranteed - for the surveillance, identification and control part -from the Air Control Center, the Recognized Air Picture Production Center, the Sensor Fusion Post (ARS) of Poggio Renatico (FE) and the 22 ° Radar Group of Licola (NA), with regard to the intervention in flight, from the 4 ° Stormo (GR) and the 36 ° Stormo (BA), as well as, to support and as back-up to the 4 ° and the 36 °, from the 37 ° Stormo (TP), all equipped with Eurofighter hunting aircraft.