From 5 to 11 May, the exercise ’ took place in the Ionian Sea.“Mediterranean Strike 2025 (Medstrike25), a complex bilateral training exercise which saw Italian and British naval air forces operate jointly, under the aegis of a large and intricate joint task force. Naval air forces from seven allied navies also provided support. NATOUnited States, Canada, France, Norway, Turkey, Spain and Portugal.
The primary objective of the exercise is the neutralization of both conventional and asymmetric threats, pursued through an integrated, multi-level strategy in response to current security and cooperation needs among allied nations. With a significant contribution of assets and personnel, indeed – twenty-one ships, three submarines, forty-one jets (including twenty-six fifth-generation fighters), nineteen helicopters, ten patrol aircraft, and more than 8,000 military personnel – the Medstrike25 has been an important testbed for testing interoperability between advanced air capabilities and consolidating cooperation between the Air Force, Navy, Royal Air Force e Royal Navy. All with the aim of constituting a credible, integrated projection force and capability, able to respond promptly and effectively to any operational needs, wherever they may arise.
The focal point of Medstrike25 were the two aircraft carriers: HMS Prince of Wales, the British flagship, and Cavour Ship of the Italian Navy. Specifically, the exercise saw the F-35B of the 32nd Wing of Amendola, embark on the aircraft carrier Cavour as part of the Carrier Air Wing together on the Navy's F35Bs, to land on HMS Prince of Wales. Aerial operations were then launched from the two aircraft carriers, involving high-intensity and realistic simulated scenarios. Among the various activities conducted: operations involving Close Air Support (CAS), coordinated attacks on simulated threats, COMAO operations; missions of Defensive and Offensive Counter Air, which is to say, air defence of the two Carrier Strike GroupsCarrier Strike Groupand attacks against ground targets; missions Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD)) or suppression of enemy defences; activity of Air-to-Air Refuelling namely in-flight refuelling with Italian and British aircraft.
“Operating in a multinational context with the latest generation assets and from different naval platforms represents an extremely stimulating challenge from a technical and operational point of view. – declared Major D., an F-35B pilot from the 32nd Wing. Medstrike25 has allowed us to refine the’Interoperability with British partners, testing joint procedures, in realistic scenarios, which reproduce complex and dynamic operational conditions.
Among other Air Force assets involved in the exercise were also F-2000 Eurofighter aircraft belonging to the 37th Wing of Trapani and the 36th Wing of Gioia del Colle, employed as “red forces” and in Defensive Counter Air operations, along with a command and control system. E-550A CAEW an KC-767A tanker of the 14th Wing from Pratica di Mare for AAR (Air to Air refueling) support, as well as a JTAC team of the 16th Wing of Martina Franca. It Aerospace Operations Command Furthermore, through the ATCC Desk, it made a decisive contribution to harmonising the numerous flight operations of all the assets involved, both domestic and foreign, by evaluating and approving the flight plans received and coordinating their use of airspace.
