The Italian Air Force conducted and leaded the "Circaete 2018" exercise, from October 16-18, 2018. The Circaete is an annual training activity included in the 5+5 Defece Initiative to enhance the understanding and trust, and to develop a multilateral cooperation to ensure the Western Med. Even if the defense action is in charge of every single nation of the 5+5 alliance (Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia), it is essential to operate in a coordinated way between neighboring countries due to the complexity of the activity and the required readiness.

Today the defense of the skies is a priority mission, as demonstrated by the hijacking of the Libyan A320 on December 23, 2016 and the Ethiopian Airlines B767 that during the Addis Ababa-Rome route, was diverted to the Geneva airport on February 17, 2017. The Italian Air Force is promoting this activity to share experiences among the air forces of the 10 member nations. It makes available the skills acquired in various operational and technological contexts such as electronic command and control systems, remotely piloted aircraft, search and rescue (SAR) and Personnel Recovery.


The surveillance and defense of the national airspace is the main task of the Italian Air Force, this activity is assured 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, through a defense system integrated with that of the other NATO countries. The service is guaranteed from the ground by two Radar Groups based in Poggio Renatico and Licola, and from the sky by the 4th Wing, the 36th Wing and the 37th Wing, all equipped with Eurofighter aircraft. The Italian Air Force is also strongly involved in the Air Policing missions abroad in support of countries without air defense: Albania from 2009, Slovenia from 2004 (together with Greece and Hungary), and Montenegro from last June (Montenegro has recently entered the Atlantic Alliance). It also contributes to the air defense of the Baltic countries, Bulgaria and Iceland.

CIRCAETE 2018 SCENARIO



A Falcon 900 Easy of the Italian Air Force 31st Wing has simulated the "renegade" role, flying suspiciously. Radar surveillance centers of the countries included in the aircraft's route, as well as pilots and fighters assigned to the QRA Squadrons, intervened in a rapid and coordinated manner to intercept and conduct the threat outside national airspace or force the plane to land, according to the indications received from the ground and following established protocols.


The phase of the exercise conducted in the Italian airspace was managed by the Italian - Air Operation Center of the Air Operations Command of Poggio Renatico (Ferrara), it is the command and control center of the Italian Air Force that ensures 24 hours a day the surveillance of national airspace and gives immediate take off orders for fighter jets. The pilots and the Eurofighter aircraft belonging to the three Italian AF QRA Fighter Squadrons took off in a few minutes from the order of "scramble", to intercept and escort outside the national borders the "renegade", ensuring continuity in the operation through a "relay" with the aircraft of the French Air Force and the Tunisian Air Force.

Written by Matteo Sanzani
Source, Images: Italian Air Force