After the first familiarization and training flights of the F35 Lightning, the "Task Force Air - 32nd Wing” achieved the IOC (Initial Operational Capability) as part of the “NATO Air Policing (Block 63)” operations.
The Italian Air Policing mission will see the achievement of FOC (Full Operational Capability) in the next few days with the redeployment of two more F35s and will continue its stay at Malbork airport in Poland until next November.
The Air Task Force - 32nd Wing, with the F-35A aircraft of the 32nd wing of Amendola and the 6th wing of Ghedi, will ensure control of the north-eastern flank of NATO - without interruption - through interception missions, thus guaranteeing rapid intervention to protect of the airspace in the event of penetration by unidentified aircraft or which may represent a possible threat to allied skies.
THEAir Policing (AP) is a NATO operation, managed by the Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) in Ramstein (Germany), which has been conducted since peacetime, continuously 365 days a year.
The activities carried out in the operational theater are conducted under the coordination and according to the directives given by the Joint Forces Operational Command (COVI), which is the high defense command responsible for planning, coordination and direction of military operations, joint operations/exercises national and multinationals and their related activities.
