The aero-naval components of the Navy belonging to the operational commands of the Naval Squadron of Brindisi, Taranto, La Spezia and Augusta concluded today a training activity in the Gulf of Taranto that engaged men and women of the Armed Force in exercises with increasing complexity.
The activity, which began the 6 in March, saw the participation of the Cavour aircraft carrier with nine embarked AV8B + planes, of the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft cruiser carrying EH-101 and MH-90 helicopters, of the fighters Durand de la Penne and Andrea Doria , Zeffiro and Virginio Fasan frigates, Libra and Comandante Borsini offshore patrols and Etna team refueling station, as well as Gulfstream CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) and Eurofighter Typhoon of the Italian Air Force and two helicopters AH 129 Mangusta dell 'Italian army.
The exercises carried out in the field of maritime surveillance, of close cinematic maneuvers, of supplies at sea, of amphibious operations, of shooting with the artillery on board, of the Air Defense anti-pollution and integrated between the aviation aircraft of the Navy and aircraft of the Aeronautica Militare have allowed to maintain and increase the training of the crews in a scenario characterized by the presence of a conventional and asymmetric threat.
In particular, the training allowed the Cavour aircraft carrier to resume activity with the aircraft of the Imbarcati Aircraft Group, allowing the pilots to carry out the "carrier qualifications" (qualifications necessary to operate from the ship's flight deck) and to Garibaldi, in the his role as an amphibious helicopter carrier, to carry out an "elixalto" raid with the landing of an 1 ° Regiment of the Marina San Marco Brigade with the escort of the two Italian Army Mangusta helicopters.
The activity carried out in the Gulf of Taranto is part of the training of the crews and the aeronautical structures in order to maintain a high standard of capacity of the Naval Squad to ensure operational readiness and tactical flexibility to perform daily and effectively the tasks of defense of the country "On the sea and from the sea", of maritime safety, of protection of national strategic interests as well as in the field of activities in favor of the community.
