The event, this year with an Italian leadership, is organized and managed by the Italian Air Force and involves aircraft and personnel from seven other countries: Algeria, France, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia.
The exercise aims to promote the adoption of common procedures and jointly train the commands responsible - in the countries involved - for air operations, the related command and control structures and radar surveillance, as well as pilots and personnel of the air defense bases in the management of so-called "Renegade" cases, or of civil aircraft arriving or passing through the national airspace whose conduct is potentially dangerous for national security as it is attributable to a possible terrorist action.
"Flexible and highly technological means, professionalism, certain and standardized procedures and rules of engagement, a unique chain of command: these are the fundamental tools to effectively counter any possible form of threat coming from the sky", said the chief of staff of the Italian Air Force, General Pasquale Preziosa, responsible for the surveillance and defense of the national airspace towards the national government authority. "The recent air warnings have shown that the defense and air safety system is needed and works: where there is an alarm, there is an organization that allows immediate intervention for the safety of the population. Every time we fly, even during training missions like these or within NATO, we provide security and are a credible deterrence for those who think they can reach our homes ".
The Air Force, responsible for the planning, direction and conduct of the event, participates with different assets: from the air operations command of Poggio Renatico (Ferrara), where in addition to the AM personnel there will be delegates of the participating nations, it will be directed and coordinated the entire exercise at the three national air defense bases - the 4th Wing of Grosseto, the 36th Wing of Gioia del Colle (BA) and the 37th Wing of Trapani - which will be ready to take off their pairs of Eurofighter interceptor fighters in a few minutes from the order to "scramble", ie immediate take-off on alarm, to intercept and escort the suspect aircraft outside the national borders or to a designated airport. One of the transport aircraft that will simulate a "Renegade" as part of the exercise will be an aircraft of the 31st Wing of the Rome Ciampino Air Force, which in the assigned scenario will cross the airspace of Italy, France, Libya and Tunisia to then return to the base. All in-flight activities will be conducted within specific training areas and routes, coordinated in the planning phase with the participating countries and with civil air traffic control bodies.
Source: AM, General Office for Communication - chap. Stefano Testa
