The purpose of the exercise was to consolidate the interoperability between the participating departments in the conduct of operations characterized by rapid interventions in geographically distant areas. Specifically, an activity was carried out aimed at consolidating the security of an advanced base in a territory near a crisis area, from which to conduct operations related to the recovery of aeronautical flight crews.
The exercise was attended by departments of the 1ª BAOS and of the Mobility and Support Forces Command, both commanded by the General of the Air Division Roberto Comelli.
Specifically, the 46ª Pisa air brigade took part in the exercise with a C27J aircraft, the 9 ° flock of Grazzanise with two HH-212 helicopters, the 16 ° flock of Martina Franca with air rifle units, the 17 ° flock of Furbara with special forces units, the dog-loving center of the Grosseto AM with canine units and the 41 ° antisom flock of Sigonella with personnel of the Employee Protection Group.
The forces employed, working in synergy and highlighting great professionalism, have demonstrated the significant level of training achieved.
At the end of the exercise, all the representatives of the departments involved were present, including colonels Francesco Saverio Agresti, Leonardo Pontrelli and Roberto Camera. All expressed satisfaction with the positive result of the exercise and the support of the 41st flock.
The commander of the air base and of the 41 ° antisom flock of Sigonella, Colonel Vincenzo Sicuso, was keen to thank the 1ª BAOS for choosing Sigonella for this important national exercise in military aeronautics, adding that “Sigonella, aware of its strategic geopolitical position and of its consequent role of "Hub" of the Mediterranean, it will always be ready to support similar exercises even at the cost of directing its internal resources in this direction, should the case require it or our armed force requires it ".
The mission of the 41 ° flock consists in countering the underwater and naval threat and in providing the long-range search and rescue service to protect the main maritime routes in order to keep potentially hostile underwater and surface naval units under control. In addition to these activities, there is the control of mercantile traffic in the Mediterranean, as part of the "post 11 September" operations against international terrorism, and support for activities aimed at controlling migration flows from the southern quadrants of the Mediterranean, guaranteeing daily - with 'aid of the Breguet 1150 "Atlantic" aircraft supplied - the coverage of the large areas of interest and allowing the timely location of refugees at sea, alerting the appointed bodies and ensuring, in the event of maritime casualties and shipwreck, a constant and emergency response SAR
Source: 41 ° Stormo (Sigonella) - first Marshal Carmelo Savoca
