Over the past few weeks, an event took place at the Pantelleria Airport Detachment, a training exercise focusing on the ability Air Landed Aircraft Refuelling Point (ALARP) for the in-flight refuelling of tactical aircraft, in which various assets took part F-35B of the’Italian Air Force And of the Royal Navy.
In particular, the event focused on the operational refurbishment of two F-35B aircraft, which, once they had landed at Pantelleria Airport – which, for the purposes of the exercise, simulated a so-called “austere” base, i.e. one unsuitable for conventional take-off operations – and with their engines still running, they refuelled on the ground – known in technical jargon as a “Hot Pit” – before taking off rapidly to continue their operational mission.
The activity was planned and carried out by the Air and Space Operations Command (COA), in coordination with the Air Squadron Command – 1st Milan Air Region of the Italian Air Force, with the participation of assets and personnel from the 32nd Wing by Amendola, which also provided maintenance, aircraft support and cross-servicing for the 46th Air Brigade from Pisa, equipped with a KC-130J tanker configuration, 3rd Wing in Villafranca for activities relating to refuelling operations and the 16th Wing from Martina Franca, which ensured the necessary security arrangements through the Fucilieri dell’Aria.
This operational scenario enables you to take full advantage of the features Short take-off of F-35B aircraft and to practise in peacetime, in accordance with the concept Train as you fight, on the use of shore-based refuelling procedures. The training exercise also provided an opportunity to practise the NATO concept known as Agile Combat Employment (ACE), a manoeuvre operating concept designed to enhance the resilience and survivability of Aerospace Power, meaning the ability to move from a base and regenerate operational air capability in geographically dispersed locations, and then continue to conduct the assigned mission, i.e. to be resilient and capable of generating operational readiness from the sky under all circumstances.
The development of this NATO operational concept, which, by dispersing assets, reduces the risk of having air assets concentrated in a single location, results in a freedom of action and operational flexibility that enables the Armed Forces to continue carrying out their mission even in the face of threats, whilst also increasing the flexibility of air operations, as aircraft can be rapidly repositioned to respond to changing operational requirements with minimal support.
