In the morning today, two interceptor fighters Euro Fighter of the 37th wing of the Air Force of Trapani, in alarm service for the defense of the airspace, carried out an intervention on the order of immediate take-off received from NATO Combined Air Operations Center of Torrejon (Spain) to intercept and verify a civil aircraft Pilate PC6T, took off from the Swiss Buochs airport and headed for Capodichino (NA), which had lost radio contact with the air traffic authorities.
Once reached the aircraft en route, thanks to the coordinates and information provided by the ground "fighter guide" staff of the 11th DAMI group of the aerospace operations command, the envisaged "visual identification" (VID) procedure was carried out to ensure that there were no emergency conditions or security threats. After having carried out all the necessary checks with the air traffic control bodies and restored radio contacts, the fighters returned to base.
There are four Flocks equipped with assets Euro Fighter that the Air Force uses for the Air Defense service: the 4th flock of Grosseto, the 36th flock of Gioia del Colle, the 37th flock of Trapani, the 51st flock of Istrana. Furthermore, since March 2018, the F-35As of the 32nd wing of Amendola have also been integrated into the Air Defense system, which contribute, with specific operational capabilities and latest generation technology, to the defense of the Italian skies and which were the first aircraft 5th generation to have been employed by NATO to safeguard Alliance airspace in Air Policing.
The complex defense system through which the Air Force ensures, without solution of continuity, the surveillance of the national airspace is integrated, even in peacetime, with that of the other countries belonging to NATO. The immediate take-off order is given by the CAOC (Combined Air Operation Center) of Torrejon (Spain), the NATO body responsible for the airspace surveillance service in the southern Mediterranean area, which integrates surveillance and control capabilities of the 11th DAMI group of Poggio Renatico (FE) and the 22nd radar group of Licola (NA). The two groups are employed by the newly formed aerospace control brigade as service provider and referent of the Armed Forces, through the aerospace operations command, in the sectors of Integrated Missile Air Defense and coordination and operational air traffic control.
The newly formed National Air and Space Operations Center, within the AOC, contributes to the organization of the air defense service and carries out constant supervision on the entire device. In the event of a non-military threat to the Italian airspace (renegade), NASOC resumes command of the interceptor aircraft entrusted to NATO for the subsequent counter action. This occurs when a civil aircraft in transit in the national airspace shows an anomalous behavior and, therefore, potentially dangerous for national security.
