Aircraft and personnel from four nations train together to improve integration and standardization
The multinational air exercise 'Falcon Strike 32' continues from the Amendola air base, home of the 2021 ° Stormo, one of the most important training events of the year organized by the Italian Air Force to promote standardization between air forces of different nations in terms of common training methodologies and operational tactics, and which is part of the integration process between 4th and 5th generation weapon systems that the Armed Force has been carrying out intensively since the entry into the line of the new F-35 fighter.
In the multinational exercise event, until June 15, over 50 aircraft are involved, including fighters, transport and refueling aircraft in flight and other support assets. For the first time in Europe, F-35A and F-35B from four different countries are operating together among those that have joined the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program: United States, Italy, United Kingdom and Israel.
The exercise, under the command and control of the Aerospace Operations Command of Poggio Renatico (Ferrara), aims to reproduce an operational scenario in which complex aerial operations are carried out with 5th generation assets. During the event, flight crews and support teams have the opportunity to train in scenarios created to simulate various types of missions - including protection of high-value aircraft assets, Close Air Support operations, interdiction air with strategic and tactical management, support for special forces on the ground, targeting operations - in a complex, highly changeable and non-permissive context.
The flight activities are carried out within airspace dedicated to training, within which EW (Electronic Warfare) and SBAD (Surface Base Air Defense) activities will be carried out; in this context, the SIRIUS command and control / radar system of the 2nd Wing of Rivolto (Udine) and a SAMP-T component of the Italian Army will also operate.