The Italian delegation was led by the head of the 3rd 'Aerospace Instrument Planning' department of the Air Force General Staff (SMA), Air Brigade General Gianni Candotti. The importance attributed by the armed force to the OET and more generally to the cooperation with the USAF, which represents the reference air force for the Euro-Atlantic area, is high.
The USAF participated in the proceedings with a large and qualified delegation led by major general John T. Winters, mobilitation assistant to the deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements, HQ USAF, Washington DC The USAF delegation offered a global overview on various sectors of interest and strongly emphasized, in various fields and at various levels, the absolute appreciation for the effort made by the military air force in the various operational theaters. The USAF affirmed the need for enhanced international cooperation between the two countries, in light of the complex geopolitical scenario of reference that sees numerous threats to security and "strategic tensions" in various geographical sectors.
The meetings also made it possible to analyze the status of some programs of common interest, highlighting the willingness of both parties to intensify existing forms of cooperation and to create further ones in order to obtain, in perspective, new effective synergies. In particular, among the results achieved, the convergent desire to share experiences at the aeronautical level on the Joint Strike Fighter program and in the RPAS sector (Remotely Piloted Aircrafts) stands out.
Finally, to highlight the promising prospects identified in the space sector, where a collaboration in the SST (Space Surveillance and Tracking) sector, the ability to launch micro and nano satellites, sub-orbital flight and experimentation on hypersonic materials is considered to be feasible. In this context it was recalled that the AM has always been at the forefront in the field of space study and exploration, since the days of the S. Marco project launched in 1964.
The S. Marco project was a bilateral collaboration program that already saw Italy and the United States involved in scientific research and experimentation in space.
Ultimately, the talks made it possible to underline once again the importance of cooperation between the two aeronautics which, also for the joint programs in progress, will in the future be able to contribute significantly to the development of Air Power and the promotion of Space. environment in favor of renewed stability for the international community.
Source: SMA - 3 ° Department - Rome - captain Diego Bolchini
