The Italian Air Force's mission in Japan has concluded, with the two Air Forces collaborating to share operational skills and experiences.
The mission, which saw Aeronautica Militare aircraft and personnel training together with Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force (Japan Air Self-Defence Force – JASDFThe return journey, which began on Wednesday, 9 August, included stops in Clark (Philippines), Singapore, Malé (Maldives) and Doha (Qatar), before concluding at the respective home bases of the aircraft, specifically Pratica di Mare for the three KC-767A and for the G-550 CAEW of the 14th Wing, Amendola and Ghedi for the four F-35A (three from the 32nd and one from the 6th Wing) and Pisa for the two C-130J of the 46th Air Brigade.
deployment activities, also supported by the 3rd Wing in Villafranca for the Combat Service Support and from the’European Air Transport Command (EATC) for air-to-air refuelling and transport aspects, began on 30 July and ended on 4 August with the arrival at the air base of Komatsu, in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Advanced logistical planning has enabled the Armed Forces' operational reach to over 10,000 km from home, demonstrating great expertise in the field Air expeditionary and capability Command and Control “remote”.
Received in Japan by Col. Atsushi Miyake, JASDF Flight Group Commander, the Col. Luca Crovatti, Mission Commander del rischieramento, he stressed the symbolic value of the journey, which had first been undertaken in 1920 by pilots Arturo Ferrarìn and Guido Masiero on board SVA biplanes, and this year saw the Air Force bring fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to the country – as the first European nation.
Italy and Japan they have a relevant role in this programme, being the only ones to have a Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facilities outside the USA, as also recalled at the press conference by General Alberto Biavati, Commander of the Air Squad, present in Japan to underline the value of the exercise within the cooperative relationship between the two Armed Forces.
Also the’Ambassador of Italy to Japan Gianluigi Benedetti remarked that security and defence cooperation is one of the pillars of the relationship between Italy and Japan, confirmed by the intensification of political dialogue and participation – together with the United Kingdom – in the development programme for the next-generation fighter jet GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme). “I have come to greet and congratulate our pilots and airmen – The Ambassador said to the staff assembled for his visit to Komatsu – who, thanks to their presence here, further consolidate and strengthen this collaboration and attest to Italy's concrete commitment to standing alongside Japan, a strategic G7 partner, in defence of shared values, principles, rules and interests to ensure peace, stability and development in Europe, the Mediterranean basin and the Indo-Pacific.”.
The training activity, with the Italian assets alongside four F-15 del 6th Wing of Komatsu, in turn supported by a KC-767 departed 1st Tactical Airlift Group, has seen pilots, flight operators and technicians from both Armed Forces compete, pooling skills and training objectives – especially in terms of interoperability – to share techniques, tactics and operational procedures.
To celebrate this meeting, the JASDF has dedicated the livery of one of the F-15 at the Italian Air Force Centenary.
“This exercise – emphasised Gen. S.A. Alberto Biavati – falls within the scope of the broader partnership between the Air Force and the Kōkū Jieitai on advanced training, which already sees the presence of Japanese student pilots at the International Flight Training School. This collaboration allows for the sharing of skills and experience, fostering the professional, technical, and operational growth of the Air Forces of both countries.”.
ENGLISH VERSION
Bilateral exercise completed for the Italian Air Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force.
On Monday 14 August, the mission in which assets and crews from #ItalianAirForce trained in Japan with the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) came to an end. The return journey, which began on Wednesday 9 August, made stopovers in Clark (Philippines), Singapore, Malé (Maldives) and Doha (Qatar), before concluding at the Pratica di Mare bases for the three KC-767As and the G-550 CAEW of the 14thThe Wing, Amendola and Ghedi for the four F-35As – three from 32and and one from sixThe Wings – , and Pisa for the two C-130Js of the 46th Air Brigade.The Air Brigade.
The redeployment activities, also supported by Villafranca's 3rd Wing for combat service support and by the European Air Transport Command (EATC) for in-flight transport and air-to-air refuelling aspects, commenced on 30 July and concluded on 4 August with the arrival at Komatsu air base, in Ishikawa Prefecture. Advanced logistical planning enabled the Italian Air Force to project operations over 10,000 km away from home, demonstrating great air expeditionary competence and Command and Control capabilities.
Welcomed in Japan by Colonel Atsushi Miyake, Flight Group Commander of the JASDF, Italian Air Force Mission Commander Colonel Luca Crovatti emphasised the symbolic value of that journey, which was first made in 1920 by Italian pilots Arturo Ferrarìn and Guido Masiero aboard SVA biplanes. While this year the Italian Air Force brought to Japan the fifth-generation F-35 fighter aircraft – as the first European nation. Italy and Japan have a significant role in this programme, being the only ones to have a Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility outside the United States, as was also recalled at the press conference by Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Alberto Biavati, who was present in Japan to emphasise the relevance of the exercise, done in the wider frame of the cooperation between the two Armed Forces.
The Italian Ambassador to Japan, Gianluigi Benedetti, also confirmed the importance of the event, identifying collaboration in security and defence as one of the pillars of the relationship between Italy and Japan. This was also confirmed by the intensification of political dialogue and participation – together with the United Kingdom – in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). “I have come to greet and congratulate our pilots and aircrews,” the Ambassador told the personnel deployed on the occasion of his visit to Komatsu, “because with their presence here, they can help further consolidate and strengthen this collaboration, and testify to Italy’s concrete commitment in standing with Japan – a strategic partner of the G7 – to the safeguard of shared values, principles, rules and interests for peace, stability and development in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific.”
The bilateral training exercise, with Italian assets alongside four F-15s from Komatsu's 6The Wing, supported by a KC-767 of the 1and Tactical Airlift Group, saw pilots, flight operators and technicians from the two Armed Forces share skills and training objectives – especially regarding interoperability – for the exchange of techniques, tactics and operational procedures. To celebrate this meeting, the JASDF dedicated the livery of one of its F-15s to the Italian Air Force's Centenary, held this year.
“This exercise,” emphasised Italian Air Force Lt. Gen. Alberto Biavati, “is part of the broader partnership between the Italian Air Force and Kōkū Jieitai on advanced training, which already sees the presence of Japanese student pilots at the International Flight Training School. This collaboration and sharing of know-how and best practices fosters a growth in technical and operational skills for the Air Forces of both countries.”
