The air-naval exercise will take place from 24 January to 7 February 2022 Neptune Strike, organized and conducted by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), in support of the enhanced Vigilance and focused on the presence of aircraft carrier groups in the central Mediterranean, for the projection of the aircraft embarked up to the limit of the range, in implementation of the concepts sea based ed expeditionary typical of maritime forces.
The Italian Defense will participate with the naval units included in the Standing Naval Forces of NATO, the frigate Margottini (flag ship of NATO's second permanent naval group - SNMG2) and the minesweeper Viareggio (part of NATO's second permanent mine countermeasures group - SNMCMG2).
All projects Neptune Strike also participates a refueling KC 767 of the Italian Air Force with duties of Air to Air Refueling (AAR). AAR is the in-flight refueling operation between aircraft. This capability makes it possible to extend the time spent in flight by refueled aircraft.
The Italian Air Force is able to refuel in flight through Boeing KC767 aircraft supplied to the 14th wing of Pratica di Mare (RM) and KC-130 supplied to the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa.
Furthermore, from 1 to 7 February the task group consisting of the aircraft carrier Cavour (with an aerotactic group on board), a destroyer of the class Doria, the frigate Marceglia, a refueling unit and a submarine of the U212 class, will join the exercise and, subsequently, will conduct joint training activities in the Central Mediterranean with the naval group of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and with the naval group of the American aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman.
