The TFA 32nd Wing formed by F35A aircraft has reached Full Operational Capability (FOC) and will guarantee the airspace surveillance service in Iceland for three weeks as part of NATO Air Policing operations. The “Northern Lightning” operation was thus officially started.
The important goal achieved, which sees Italy being the first Alliance country to use F-35 assets in operation, was formalized by a ceremony attended by the Chief of General Defense Staff Enzo Vecciarelli accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Force General Alberto Rosso.
“Today, with the achievement of Full Operational Capability by the Air 32nd Wing Task Force - the words of General Vecciarelli - we renew our commitment to actively contribute to collective defense. Our country has decided to contribute to Air Policing activities with the most advanced resources, the F-35 A of the Aeronautica Mlitare, which for the first time under the command and control of the Allied Air Command, will guarantee the safety of the airspace in an important strategic portion of the Euro-Atlantic region ”.
The ceremony ended with a solemn flag raising, where the NATO flag was raised, delivered to the Commander of the TFA, by the Deputy Commander of the Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), Lieutenant General Pascal Delerce who underlined how "For the first time a fifth generation fighter, the F-35, will be employed by NATO to safeguard the airspace of the Alliance in an Air Policing operation. This event represents a great step towards the integration of modern fighter aircraft in allied missions, demonstrating the ability of the Alliance to look to the future by integrating new technologies ”.
Insights
The mission of the TFA 32nd Wing aims to preserve the integrity of NATO airspace by strengthening the sky surveillance activity of Iceland which does not possess autonomous air defense capabilities and facilities.
The Italian Air Force participates in the Air Policing operation in Iceland with six F-35A aircraft. Pilots, Air Defense controllers, technical, logistic and Force Protection personnel will ensure the Icelandic Airspace Surveillance Service for three weeks, while conducting joint training activities with Icelandic Coast Guard personnel.
The activity of Air Policing has been conducted since peacetime and consists in the continuous surveillance of the integrity of NATO's airspace as well as in the identification of any violations of its integrity, before which appropriate counter actions must be taken, such as, for example, the rapid take-off of interceptor fighter aircraft, which in technical terms is called scramble.
Air Policing is carried out within the area of responsibility of the NATO Allied Command Operation (ACO) based in Brussels and is coordinated by the Ramstein Air Command (AIRCOM) (GER).