After the first flights made in 2004 in the USA, where the Italian crews were initially trained and qualified, the Witches of the 28th Flight Group immediately demonstrated that they could intervene in national and international military operations.
Thanks to the capabilities and specific characteristics of the Weapon System, in 2005 the Group was immediately projected into Operations Outside the National Borders (OFCN) and redeployed in Iraq for the "Ancient Babylon" operation. Since then the "Predator"of the Air Force have been deployed, without interruption, wherever it was necessary to provide support; in Afghanistan, Djibouti and Kuwait for example.
Since 2011, with the operation Unified Protector, the aircraft Predator of the 32 ° Stormo, in the MQ-1 and MQ-9 versions, have given their significant contribution to OFCN operations. Already in 2009, during the G8 event held in L'Aquila and, in 2017, during the G7 in Taormina, the aircraft Predator highlighted in a concrete and profitable way the possibility of being employed in support of the police forces involved in the delicate management of public order in urban areas.
Operating from the bases of Amendola and Sigonella, they then participated in the collection of information in Kosovo, as well as in the vast area of the central Mediterranean, and recorded a significant and constant annual increase in operational and training activities, also carrying out support activities to public security operations in a strictly national context.
Reactivated on 10 July 2017, the 61st Flying Group, equipped with MQ-1 aircraft and operating from Sigonella airport, has contributed significantly to the increase in information collection in the central Mediterranean area. The 28th Flying Group, based in Amendola, recently structured also with OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) functions, guarantees the initial qualification activities of APR crews on MQ-1 and MQ-9 aircraft.
The 32 ° Stormo, based in Amendola (Foggia), is one of the Air Force flight departments dependent on the Rome Air Squad Command, through the Milan Combat Forces Command. First department in Europe to acquire F35 aircraft, it carries out operational, training and technical activities of the Predator remotely piloted aircraft, in order to acquire and maintain the ability to carry out national and coalition ISTAR operations. Furthermore, it provides and completes, through MB-339 aircraft, the training of UAV pilots in order to ensure an adequate level of training on traditional piloted aircraft. Since March 2018, the F35 aircraft of the 32nd Wing have been integrated into the Air Defense system, thus contributing, with specific operational capabilities and latest generation technology, to the defense of the Italian skies.
