A complex airdrop activity took place at the Altopascio (Lucca) launch area, during which two C-130Js and a C-27J from the 46th Air Brigade of the Italian Air Force based in Pisa, flying in formation, simultaneously airdropped over 130 paratroopers from the brigade. thunderbolt.
The activity, which is part of the continuous, very close exchange of collaboration and cooperation that exists between the Army and the Air Force, had the aim of verifying and increasing the level of readiness and interoperability aiming to improve the capabilities of the Italian Defense to be able to deploy quickly and over great distances, units capable of conducting operations typical of the paratrooper specialty.
The activity is also particularly important from the perspective of its international use and integration, since it is an airborne practice used by the Allied Countries that are part of the NATO airborne community and is one of the important events in preparation for the exercise. Swift Response 2025, in which Italy will also participate.
The 46th Air Brigade is a unit of the Air Force equipped with two types of transport aircraft: the C-130J and the C-27J, both of which can be used for various activities. It is operational 365 days a year and employs its men and women and its aircraft in every part of the world in multiple institutional activities, including:
- Aviosbarco;
- Airdrop of personnel and material;
- Transport of materials, vehicles and equipment;
- Tactical operations.
Mass airdrop is one of the most complex capabilities that is expressed by using multiple aircraft of the same or different types in formation, conducted by highly trained personnel. The paratrooper brigade thunderbolt It is the large combat unit with specialized capabilities of the Italian Army, capable of expressing effective, versatile and "full spectrum" operational capabilities, according to the principle of maximum inter-arms, inter-force and multinational interoperability integration.
