Aerospace: the Air Force receives the Space Economy award

(To air Force)
04/03/20

On Monday 2 March in Rome, at the Aviator's House, the president of the Association for ICT Services, Applications and Technologies for Space (ASAS), engineer Lorenzo D'Onghia, handed over to the air squad general Alberto Rosso, head of the Italian Air Force, the "Space Economy" award in recognition of the strategic role of the Armed Force in the development and promotion of Italian space activities at the "Space 2020" conference.

In particular, the president of ASAS recalled the fundamental collaboration of the Italian Air Force with various institutions and important realities of the academic world, scientific research and industry in the field of suborbital flight, as well as in the launch of mini satellites using jet aircraft. performance and in developing the operational requirements of stratospheric platforms.

A large parterre of prominent exponents of the military, industrial and academic world attended the awarding of the award which constituted a meeting point between institutions, companies and experts, who were able to confront each other on topics of strategic interest for the Space sector.

The debate was inspired by the outcome of the ESA (European Space Agency) Ministerial Council, held in Seville last November, in which the partner countries presented their commitments and programs relating to the sector. Italy, in particular, has significantly increased its commitment, a sign of its involvement and growing interest in an increasingly strategic sector, destined to assume a preponderant role in the future.

To use the words of the president of ASAS, Space "is a sector that works, in which there is virtuous cooperation at all levels and in which the country is doing well, strategically and carefully".

Also present at the event was Undersecretary of Defense Angelo Tofalo, who observed how "Defense, and in particular the Air Force with its specific skills, has given a lot to this sector."

Among others, the interventions by Hon. Guido Crosetto, president of AIAD (Association of Italian Companies for Aerospace, Defense and Security), of the president of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) Giorgio Saccoccia, and of Leonardo's CEO, Alessandro Profumo.

To close the speeches, before the award ceremony, Admiral Carlo Massagli, military adviser to the Prime Minister, who retraced the developments of the national strategy in the space sector and, above all, the prospects and commitments that the future requires, in light of the results obtained at the "ESA Ministerial" in Seville.

In gratefully receiving the important recognition on behalf of the Air Force, General Rosso recalled how this was possible thanks to the constant teamwork that characterizes the Armed Force: "I find it a particularly fitting concept, that of the team, precisely in the case of the Space sector. Perhaps in no other field is the joint and synergistic work of the Institutions, of the world of research and of industry industrial to be successful."

Speaking of the role of the Armed Force in this new domain, the general said that "that of Space up to 100 kilometers of altitude, in particular, is a natural extension of the field of action of the Air Force. We must be able to move and act in that area, and of course to monitor and defend it, guaranteeing freedom of movement inside. "

"Like the cyber environment, Space is a new domain, which poses challenges not only in military and defense terms, but also in terms of scientific research, the development of technologies and industrial strategies. As a Country System, it is ours strategic interest to develop skills in every aspect of this sector, so that we can present ourselves at the table with good cards to play " concluded General Rosso.