Five Italian Air Force Bases and over 20 units comprising flying and support departments were involved.
In particular, the exercise, which will conclude on 23 May, will be based on a simulated scenario involving the participation of the Italian Air Force in a joint and multinational operation carried out under a UN mandate in response to an international crisis. Running alongside Star-Vega, from 13 to 17 May, will be the NATO exercise “Ramstein Guard 4”, which the CAOC (Combined Air Operations Centre) in Poggio Renatico (Ferrara) plans and conducts annually within its area of responsibility, with a view to achieving ever greater integration between the national units specialising in electronic warfare. From 9 to 12 May, the deployment of all participating aircraft and personnel to the two main air bases involved will be completed, effectively concluding the preparatory phase of the event. All the main operational units of the Italian Air Force will take part in the exercise, with aircraft of every type operating simultaneously from five different Italian air bases: from Decimomannu and Trapani: air defence, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and attack aircraft, as well as search and rescue helicopters; from Pisa and Pratica di Mare, transport and in-flight refuelling assets; from Amendola, Predator unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A NATO AWACS radar aircraft is also expected to take part, operating from the base in Geilenkirchen, Germany, along with a contingent of Italian Army personnel. Personnel and aircraft will begin returning to their units from 24 May. The training will be conducted using a sophisticated computerised simulation system operated by the Experimental Air Fire Control Standardisation Unit (RSSTA) at Decimomannu, which will enable flight crews to train for various types of missions without the use of live ammunition. The aircraft will operate within sections of airspace reserved for military training, as part of a plan coordinated in advance with the authorities responsible for managing civil air traffic. No night-time flying is scheduled during “Star-Vega 2013”.
