On April 3, 2025, the leaders of 28 allied air forces and their representatives, along with five partner nations, gathered for the NATO Air Chiefs' Symposium (NACS) at the headquarters of theAllied air command (AIRCOM), the Allied Air Force Command based in Ramstein (Germany). A strategic event to address issues such as the current geopolitical situation and how NATO, in the air component, is supporting and improving integrated operations in the field of air and space power. The theme of the symposium was “Capability Development through Exercise, Experimentation and Operational Deployment” – the development of capabilities through training, experimentation and operational employment.
Among the topics discussed during the event were future joint training possibilities within the Alliance, theagile combat employment, a fundamental concept to ensure the dynamic deployment of forces, air mobility and the projection of aerospace power, the NATO IAMD policy (Integrated Air Missile Defence) with its future operational developments and possible experimentation programmes, Air C2 and Space C2.
General James Hecker, AIRCOM commander, said: "This is a great opportunity to strengthen relationships and improve communications among each other. This is the ideal forum to facilitate frank, open and fruitful discussion, especially in thin uncertain time".
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, present at the NACS for the sixth time in the last 3 years, said: "The current situation is complex, extremely changeable and our role within NATO is clear and unequivocal. The air component is called, today more than ever, to provide its precious and irreplaceable support".
He then added “The Italian Air Force continuously provides assets with high technological and operational value, not only with the Eurofighter and F-35 fighters for national and NATO air defense, but also thanks to the KC-767A aircraft for in-flight refueling and G-550 CAEW for Command and Control. Two capabilities that, combined with the experience and relevance obtained in the field of adhesion logistics, represent elements of absolute necessity in the context of NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defense”.
Il NATO Air Chiefs' Symposium, hosted twice a year at AIRCOM in Ramstein, is a clear demonstration of the commitment of all 32 nations of the Alliance to ensure collective security, peace and stability within NATO borders. It also represents a unique opportunity for the highest representatives of the Allied air forces to share opinions, cooperation activities, possible integrations and future development plans within the scope of NATO's air domain and aerospace power.
The event was also an opportunity for the Italian personnel employed at AIRCOM to meet Gen. Goretti, who expressed his personal recognition for the valuable work carried out in Ramstein within the framework of the Integrated Missile Air Defense. He also underlined how 2025 is an important moment for the Armed Forces which reaches ten years of uninterrupted presence in the missions of Air Policing. A clear example of dedication but above all of relevance and credibility earned on the international stage, day after day, thanks to the silent work of the women and men in blue.
Air Division General Gianluca Ercolani, Chief of Staff of AIRCOM, thanked General Goretti for his intervention and for the continuous support in favor of the Italian community in Ramstein, and wanted to underline: "We find ourselves within a changing geopolitical scenario characterized by growing tensions that pose significant challenges to collective security. For this reason, in an operational context where the threat will come predominantly from the sky, the Air Force is called upon to play a more active and responsible role than ever within the Allied Air Command."
The symposium was also attended by Air Division General Luca Maineri, Commander of the Aerospace Operations Command and of the co-located DACCC (Deployable Air Command and Control Centre) in Poggio Renatico (FE), a NATO excellence with about 200 military personnel from 15 countries, including Italy. Its mission is to prepare personnel to be ready to deploy worldwide and to provide well-trained and specialized experts to increase the command and control capabilities of the AIRCOM air component during NATO operations and exercises. Among its distinctive capabilities, the DACCC includes the DARS (Deployable Air Control Center, Recognized Air Picture Production Centre, Sensor Fusion Post), a fundamental system for the production of the Recognized Air Picture (RAP), the control of air and missile assets, and the integration of sensor data, ensuring advanced management of air situation awareness in complex operational scenarios. Furthermore, DACCC's capabilities also include the ability to deploy high-end sensors and transmission modules capable of increasing resilience and enhancing the aircraft detection capability of defensive systems.
Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) is located in Ramstein, Germany. It is NATO's air component command responsible for implementing the Integrated Air Missile Defense (IAMD) to ensure the safety of allied airspace. The IAMD also heads the NATO Air Policing missions in which Italy actively participates as Baltic Air Policing (BAP), enhanced Air Policing (eAP), Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to Meet Iceland's Peacetime Preparedness Needs (ASIC-IPPN) and NATO AP arrangements for Allies in the Western Balkans.
Under the direct control of AIRCOM are the two combined air operation centres (CAOC) – one in Uedem (Germany) and the other in Torrejon (Spain) – and the deployable air command and control centre (DACCC) in Poggio Renatico. Under strictly operational control operate the NATO airbone early warning & control force (NAEW&CF) with headquarters in Geilenkirchen (Germany) and the NATO intelligence surveillance recoinassance force (NISRF) based in Sigonella.
Within AIRCOM there are personnel from the Italian Air Force who hold various key positions, such as chief of staff – on a rotational basis with Germany every 3 years – and those serving various key functions, including operational planning, development of infrastructure and info-structures, strategic communication, Intelligence, Space Awareness, Targeting and projection logistics.
