The Ship-Shore-Ship Buffer system meeting took place at the Air Force Detachment and the 137th Squadron. Remote Radar Station in Mezzogregorio. In addition to representatives from the organising bodies, the meeting was attended by a representative from NATO’s Supreme Headquarters in Europe (SHAPE), the delegate from the NSPA (NATO Support Agency) and representatives from the eight NATO countries using the SSSB system (Denmark, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Norway and Turkey), joined by a representative from Croatia in an observer capacity. During the first and third days of the meeting, held in the conference room of the Syracuse Air Detachment, technical and administrative issues relating to the programme were discussed, whilst the second day was devoted to a visit to the 137th Remote Radar Squadron at Mezzogregorio (SR), commanded by Major Giuseppe Canto, where the system is installed. At the end of the activities, the Detachment and the Squadron organised guided tours of the historic centre of Syracuse and the town of Noto respectively, to highlight Italy’s artistic and cultural heritage. In Noto, the delegation was received by the mayor, Dr Corrado Bonfanti. During the closing stages of the meeting, the traditional exchange of crests took place between the Chairman of the SSSB-SPC NCI Agency, Mr Michael Bauer, and Major Giuseppe Forte, the national representative on the Support Partnership Committee and, on this occasion, acting as representative of the 3rd Division of the Logistics Command, the higher command to which the 137th Remote Radar Squadron reports, via the 4th Technical Maintenance Unit at Borgo Piave (LT). The NCI Agency also wished to present a gift to Lieutenant Colonel Paolo Tredici, commander of the Syracuse Air Detachment, to thank him for the logistical support provided throughout the three days of the meeting. At the end of the exchange of crests, the Chairman, on behalf of the entire delegation, reiterated his thanks for the hospitality received, which had made their stay in Syracuse more enjoyable than they could ever have hoped for. The Ship-Shore-Ship Buffer (SSSB) is a system comprising a set of radio communication devices, managed by specific hardware and software, which enables, in real time, the exchange of data between airborne, naval and Reporting and Control platforms for the defence of the national territory and to enhance the safety of air and maritime traffic. The system, installed at the 137th SRR in Mezzo Gregorio, has undergone a recent modernisation programme, funded by the Air Force General Staff, during which innovative technical solutions were employed; these were outlined by the project managers during the meeting.
