The immediate deployment of Eurofighters occurred on the orders of the NATO operational centre in Torrejon to verify a civilian aircraft with no radio contact. This morning, Air Force F-2000 Eurofighter fighter jets, on alert for the defence of national airspace, carried out an immediate take-off order (in technical jargon called a “scramble”) for a civilian aircraft that had lost radio contact with air traffic control. The Kenyan-registered PC12 aircraft had taken off from Buochs (Switzerland) and was heading for Greece. The two fighter interceptors from the 36th Wing in Gioia del Colle reached the Kenyan aircraft a few minutes after take-off. Once it was visually ascertained that there were no emergency conditions, the two F-2000s returned to base. The operational mission was activated following the “scramble” order received from the CAOC (Combined Air Operation Center) in Torrejon, the NATO entity responsible for sky surveillance in that area, and took place under the control of the operational rooms of the Air Force's surveillance and air defence system.
The Air Force provides surveillance of national airspace 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, with a defence system that is integrated, even in peacetime, with those of other NATO countries. The service is guaranteed – for surveillance, identification and control – by the 11th Integrated Missile Air Defence Group (DAMI) of Poggio Renatico (Ferrara) and the 22nd Radar Group of Licola (Naples), while in-flight interception is provided by the 4th Wing of Grosseto, the 36th Wing of Gioia del Colle and the 37th Wing of Trapani Birgi, all equipped with Eurofighter fighter aircraft.
