Organized by the Air Force with the support of the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps, the GRIFONE 21 exercise involved means and men of Defense, Bodies and State Administrations
The “Grifone 2021” exercise ended today in Sardinia, after a week full of activity. Organized by the Air Force, it represents a collective and coordinated effort of resources, personnel and means which has as its ultimate goal the training of crews and rescuers from the many realities of the SAR (Search and Rescue) "chain", in order to cooperate synergistically for the safeguard of human life.
The National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) of Sardinia has been entrusted with the role of direction and coordination of the ground teams, formed with the precious contribution of Army personnel (Alpine Training Center and Bgt Alpina Taurinense), Riflemen of the Air of the AM, Alpine Rescue of the Guardia di Finanza (SAGF), Fire Brigade, Civil Protection and Forestry and Environmental Surveillance Corps of the Sardinia Region.
How do you act promptly in the event of missing military crews? How can the assets of the Armed Forces, other Corps and State Administrations operate under the coordination of the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) of the Aerospace Operations Command (COA) so that the sorties reach and rescue personnel in danger? How do you maximize the effectiveness of the resources that each Administration makes available in the event of a public disaster? These are all questions that the “Grifone” has trained to answer, every year in a different area of Italy, every year by improving shared techniques and procedures.
11 aircraft were deployed by the Italian Air Force (an HH139A from the 15th Wing, a TH-500 from the 72nd Wing, a TH-500 and a U-208 from the Linate Link Squadron), from the Italian Army ( BH-412), the Carabinieri (AW-109 Nexus), the Guardia di Finanza (AW-139 and AW-169), the State Police, the Fire Brigade and the Port Authority (all components with a AW-139). In support of the exercise area there is also an EC -145 from AREUS (Regional Emergency Emergency Agency of Sardinia). They have flown 100 missions, for a total of about 48 flight hours (including "night"), helicopter transporting 65 teams. The variety of simulated interventions is remarkable and as similar as possible to real cases.
The Decimomannu Air Force base played the role of DOB (Deployed Operating Base), while the “XPTZ” Flight Field of Decimoputzu that of PBA (Advanced Base Post); the south-western mountainous area of the island, including Mount Linas and the area of the Perd'e Pibera Park, has been designated as the area for carrying out the activity.
The PBA (Advanced Base Post), prepared by the AM Logistic Command, was the "beating heart" of the operations, the result of a considerable organizational and logistical effort by the Armed Force: with the contribution of all the participants, over 400 units, in a few days it has become a real field heliport suitable for projecting the capabilities of personnel and vehicles as close as possible to the exercise area.
The “Grifone” is an international and interdepartmental exercise planned and conducted annually by the Air Force as part of the international agreement SAR.MED.OCC. (SAR Western Mediterranean). It aims both to develop synergies between the Air Force and other public Departments, and to constantly improve techniques and procedures to carry out any Search and Rescue mission. This mission is one of the institutional tasks of the AOS that it pursues, possibly, also with the contribution of joint, inter-ministerial or inter-agency structures.