Nato Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) in Crete (Gr) ended the launch campaign with the weapon system Stinger of the very short range units of the artillery counter-aircraft command.
The important training activity, conducted jointly by the staff of the 17th "Sforzesca" counter-aircraft artillery regiment, the 121 ° "Ravenna" anti-aircraft artillery regiment and the training regiment, was the natural conclusion of the training cycle of the firing posts. Stinger which, to be qualified to launch, are subjected to Operational readiness evaluations (VPO) during specialty exercises and using the simulator Advanced Moving Target Simulator (AMTS).
During the launch campaign, for the assessment and certification of the degree of operation achieved by the shooting posts Stinger and of the "combat readiness" expressed by the assets Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) with particular reference to those assigned to the National Projection Screening Capacity (CNPM), in order to create operational conditions close to real ones, two operating scenarios were simulated, a convoy escort and a post to defend a sensitive target.
At launches Stinger the chief of staff of the anti-aircraft artillery command was present, Colonel Michele Strippoli and, after a briefing on the activity in favor of senior officers representing the Armed Forces of the host nation, the fire exercise was followed by some general officials of Crete among them the commander of the NAMFI Polygon, Brigadier General Kleanthis Karatsin.
For the men and women of the anti-aircraft artillery, the launch campaign represents the fundamental moment of specialty training as well as the maintenance of the professional skills of the training component of assessors and instructors.
