With a “fly to advise” mission to Shindand, destined to transport the Italian advisors of the Train, Advise and Assist Command West at the headquarters of Afghan battalions (kandaks) south of Herat, the Italian Agusta AH129 “Mangusta” helicopters from Scouting and Escort (EES) today reached 12.000 flight hours in ten years of presence in Afghanistan. In fact, since June 2007, i Mongoose they were deployed from Kabul to Herat carrying out over 6.700 flight missions.
During the mission, which follows the previous turns in Qala-eye-Now in July and in Farah in the months of August and September, the Mongoose of the Task Group "Fenice" guaranteed the safety of the personnel employed alongside their Afghan colleagues in the planning and control of operations by integrating a complex air transport and medical rescue device composed not only of Italian helicopters but also of a C-130 transport aircraft and from helicopters Black Hawk US.
"The presence of highly qualified and effective assets such as the Mangusta allows us to carry out in safety, with the sole deterrent effect, our assistance and consultancy activity to the Kandak of the Afghan forces even in areas far from Herat, within our area of responsibility, allowing us to be more and more effective " - declared General Massimo Biagini, commander of TAAC West.
"The aircraft capacity of the Italian Armed Forces is essential for the fulfillment of our mission, especially when able to coordinate perfectly with the Coalition's air assets and with the units on the ground ".
The characteristics of helicopters Mongoose - support of fire, escort and more generally protection to the advanced bases, convoys, personnel and other assets, national and international - have always proved to be vital for all the operations first of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and by 2014 of Resolute Support, coordinating synergistically and effectively with the air and land forces of the International Coalition and Afghan troops.
Il Task Group "Fenice "as well as with AH129 Mongoose, currently operates also with NH90 and with personnel of the 66 ° infantry aircraft regiment "Trieste" providing, in a flexible and functional way, medical evacuation capacity (Medevac) and Personnel Recovery (PR) within the area of competence of the TAAC-W.
