Two Eurofighter jets starring in the international Enhanced Vigilance Activity (eVA) operation
I Eurofighter fighter jets Italians, belonging to the Task Force Air 36th Wing re-deployed to Šiauliai, Lithuania, are participating in the operation NATO “Neptune Strike 24-2”, scheduled from 24 to 31 October.
This international military operation is a demonstration of operational capability that has allowed for enhanced vigilance activities, strengthened collaboration, and improved interoperability between the military forces of the countries of’Alliance, with the aim of increasing the deterrent capability of NATO demonstrating that it can ensure a rapid and coordinated response in the event of a crisis.
Italy, with its Eurofighter Typhoons, played a leading role, contributing significantly to the air component of the operation. Several air cooperation activities were conducted in the Baltic Sea and Eastern Europe area with naval and land assets, aiming to increase interoperability and standardisation through highly realistic training profiles in interception missions. All this in environments Joint e Combined multinational exercises involving fighter aircraft and personnel engaged in missions of Air Policing or re-deployed for various reasons in Europe and coming from America, Finland, England, France, and after the recent entry into NATO, also from Sweden.
The one conducted during the’NATO operation “Neptune Strike 24-2” This is not a simple military training exercise, but a concrete demonstration of international cooperation, where armed forces from various nations have come together to hone their skills, demonstrating a strong will to strengthen NATO's security posture in Baltic states, to increase the readiness of Allied Forces, deter aggression, and demonstrate the Alliance's commitment to the defence and safeguarding of all its member states.
The’Air Policing (AP) it is a capability that NATO has equipped itself with and consists of the integration of the national Air Defence systems of the Member Countries into a single air defence system. Specifically, the Task Force Air 36th Wing around one hundred and fifty pilots, technical and logistical personnel deployed, from 1 August 2024.
Under the coordination of Interforce Summit Operational Command (COVI) and through the use of four EF-2000 Typhoon aircraft coming from 36th Wing of Gioia del Colle, 4th Wing of Grosseto, 37th Wing of Trapani e 51st Wing Istrana, the Air Force contributes to controlling the Alliance's borders. In approximately three months of activity, these assets have logged over 700 flight hours between real operations and exercises, and 28 immediate take-offs on alert (in technical jargon “Scramble”).
