Iraq: rotation of the Griffon Task Group

(To Greater Defense)
02/03/21

On the flight line of the Erbil International Airport, in Iraq, the change took place at the command of theAirmobile Task Group "Griffon", the Army Aviation unit operating in Iraq, between Lieutenant Colonel Andrea S. and Lieutenant Colonel Francesco C.

Brigadier General Francesco Principe, commander of the Italian contingent in Iraq and assistant to the deputy commander for the strategy of the anti-DEASH coalition, presided over the short ceremony, carried out without personnel, in compliance with anti Covid-19 measures, in the operational area flight unit.

THEAirmobile Task Group "Griffon", equipped with the UH-90A, new generation twin-engine utility helicopters with multirole capabilities and high technological standard, is the Italian helicopter department made available to the global Coalition of 83 partners established in 2014 to stem and defeat the self-styled Islamic State and still today engaged in support of the Iraqi Security Forces for the definitive elimination of the last pockets of resistance of the ISIS terrorists and to contribute to the stability of the Middle East.

The current task of our aviators, operationally framed in the 28th expeditionary combat aviation brigade United States, is to ensure air transport on Iraqi territory for multinational units as part of the “Inherent resolve” operation. 

The "Griffon" is mainly made up of flight crews and support personnel from the 5th Aviation Regiment of the "Rigel" Army of Casarsa della Delizia (PN) with the contribution of the 7th Aviation Regiment of the "Vega" Army of Rimini.