The Air Force aircraft and personnel concluded the training activity with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Thus ends the third phase of the Indo-Pacific air campaign of the Italian Air Force which began last June 30th with the transfer of the personnel and aircraft of the Arma Azzurra to the operational quadrant of the Indo-Pacific (first phase of the campaign ) and then continue, from 12 July to 2 August, with participation in the Pitch black 2024 (PBK24) in Australia (second phase of the campaign), one of the most important large-scale multinational exercises (LFE – Large Force Exercise) conducted every two years by the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force).
At the end of the Pitch black 2024, the Air Force moved to Japan, passing through the Philippines (Clark), where it began operating from Misawa air base, starting from August 5, with F-35A, F-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon, E-550 CAEW, KC767A and a C-130J.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) participated in joint training with F-35 aircraft. United States Air Force (USAF) personnel and aircraft stationed at Misawa air base also took part in the activity.
From a training perspective, the activity carried out has allowed us to further develop the path of mutual operational knowledge and sharing of flight tactics and procedures, in order to be able to operate jointly in complete safety and with mutual trust.
Training cooperation with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) was started last year with the aim of creating a background of shared technical expertise and operational understanding on which to continue to develop the strategic partnership in the GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme), the sixth generation fighter jet intended to replace the current Eurofighter Typhoon.
The growing dialogue and participation - together with the United Kingdom - in the development program of the new generation GCAP fighter, made official at the same time in Tokyo by the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, together with the counterparts of Japan and the United Kingdom, are two of the pillars of the relationship between Italy and Japan in the defense sector.
“We are here to continue training with our Japanese friends, on the path started last year, in order to strengthen cooperation between Italy and Japan in a common strategic vision” declared the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. knows Aurelio Colagrande, during his institutional visit to Misawa, “This year's joint activity between Italy and Japan follows by one year the training carried out in August 2023 which has already seen Air Force aircraft and personnel operate together with the Kōkū Jieitai, the Japan Air-Force Defense (JASDF) . Advanced logistics planning has allowed the Armed Forces to project their operational capabilities over 10.000 km from home, demonstrating great expertise in air expeditionary and command and control capabilities 'far' from the mother country. Last year the Air Force participated in the training in Komatsu with a package composed of four F35s while this year we have more than doubled the forces in the field with a total of 14 aircraft of which 10, including the F-35As and the F-2000, for Rising Sun 24”. The general sa Aurelio Colagrande also underlined: “Japan continues to be a strategic partner of this geographic area. One of the pillars on which this relationship in the field of Defense is based, confirmed by the intensification of political dialogue, is participation - together with the United Kingdom - in the development of the new generation of GCAP (Global Combat Air Program) fighters.".
The cooperation activities between the two air forces, Italian and Japanese, fall within the scope of the broader collaborative relations between Italy and Japan, which also include the agreement between the Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force for the training of Japanese pilots at the International Flight Training School (IFTS) based in Decimomannu (CA).
The agreements and cooperation of various types underway between the Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force constitute a clear signal of the strengthening of cooperative relations between the two air forces and the two countries that share spaces and orientations, and also takes on a 'high strategic value, also considering the changed geopolitical scenario in which global stability requires a joint commitment in matters of security and defence.
Having completed the training in Japan, the return journey to Italy now begins for all personnel and aircraft of the Air Force which includes four technical stopovers (Philippines, Malaysia, Maldives and Qatar), and then ends in the various bases of origin of the aircraft.
The training commitment of the Air Force in the Indo-Pacific continues for the next few months with the two F-35Bs of the Air Force and the related pilots and specialists who will continue their mission on board the aircraft carrier Cavour of the Navy, to continue the development of the national inter-force capability of projection from the sea with 5th generation aircraft, even at great distances from the homeland.
The Air Force and the Navy are thus continuing the consolidation of the joint capacity which constitutes a further step forward in the process of integrating fifth generation multi-role aircraft, highlighting their capacity and versatility.
