US military exercise at the Friurian Air Force airport
Around 600 soldiers from the American military unit, coming from the “Ederle” barracks in Vicenza, home to the South European Task Force / US Army Africa, established themselves at the Friurian airport and carried out various drops from 3 United States Air Force C-130J aircraft. For the soldiers of the 173rd, this is the third exercise carried out at Rivolto, the second of 2013, conducted as part of Italy-US bilateral agreements to allow American paratroopers to train in conducting, in different environmental conditions, a simulated operation to seize an airport located in hostile territory with the evacuation of compatriots.
The activity was also carried out at night with the use of special Night Vision Goggles (NVG) and new technological equipment, specific to the activity, with the aim of refining the application of operational procedures and the use of technical equipment. The exercise was carried out with the support of personnel from the 2nd Wing, which provided all the necessary operational, logistical and medical assistance, in addition to airport services, such as airspace control and detailed preparations for carrying out operations in complete safety. The 2nd Wing, in addition to providing daily support to the activity of the 313th Acrobatic Training Group “Frecce Tricolori”, is the operational unit identified as the Armed Force missile centre and is responsible for the training and operational readiness of men and equipment of the “Spada” missile batteries.
