Colonel Carlo Moscini assumed command replacing Colonel Andrea Fazi as head of the JATF. The JATF is organized into the following operational units: the Task Group “Black Cats”, which includes AMX fighter-bombers from the 32nd Stormo of Amendola and the 51st Stormo of Istrana, the Task Group “Albatros”, with C-130J and C-27J transport aircraft from the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa, and the Task Group “Astore”, which operates with remote-piloted aircraft “Predator” MQ1C from the 32nd Stormo of Amendola. With approximately 200 military personnel divided between the flight line and the support line, the JATF ensures multiple professional and operational capabilities that complement each other: from tactical transport, including air drop operations with C-130 and C-27J aircraft, to surveillance activities with the Predator, from reconnaissance to support operations for ground forces with AMX and C-27 JEDI aircraft.
Since the beginning of this year, the Task Group “Black Cats” has expanded the range of missions assigned, with the enhancement of those dedicated to providing close air support to coalition forces and Afghan forces. To date, the aircraft have reached the milestone of 6,000 flight hours, completing approximately 2,100 operational sorties, demonstrating great versatility and reliability both in day and night missions, accomplished thanks to the technology of the Reccelite and Litening Pods and the use of Night Vision Goggles. The Task Group “Black Cats” has recovered more than 6,000 targets, photographing more than 3,000 kilometers of routes, and the products developed by the photo-interpretation specialists have ensured greater safety during ground operations.
Since their debut in operational theater, the aircraft of the Task Group “Albatros” have proven to be an effective instrument for ensuring the necessary support for the operations of the ISAF mission, even in remote areas of the country that are difficult to reach by land and in extreme meteorological and operational conditions.
Over the past year, thanks to its air-launch capability, 46 air-launched munitions have been supplied to both coalition troops and Afghan security forces. Additionally, with the C27J JEDI (Jamming and Electronic Defence Implementation), the “Albatros” Task Group has provided greater protection to ground forces by neutralizing enemy communications and countering the threat of radio-controlled explosive devices placed along the roads.
The “Predator” MQ1C remote-piloted aircraft have now surpassed the milestone of 9,400 flight hours, achieved in approximately 1,100 sorties in support of the Italian contingent and allied forces. The Predator can fly up to 8,000 meters above the ground for more than 20 consecutive hours, allowing, with on-board sensors specially operated by operators, to conduct electro-optical and infrared imaging of the territory that is transmitted in real time to both the ground forces and the operational command and control rooms.
During his farewell speech, Colonel Fazi, after recalling Corporal Tiziano Chierotti, who died in action on October 25 in Bakwa, expressed his utmost appreciation for the brilliant results achieved by the men and women of the Air Force during his six-month command. Before handing over the baton to Colonel Moscini, the outgoing Commander concluded his remarks by emphasizing that close cooperation with the ground component was the basis of the progress in the transition of responsibility between the ISAF and Afghan forces.
