General C.A. Bertolini visited the Amendola Base to learn about the activities carried out both within the national territory and in the foreign operational theaters. The visit had the purpose of deepening the institutional activities carried out by the Department, both within the national territory and in operations outside national borders, in accordance with the IOC’s provisions regarding operational doctrine for deployment, the execution of operational planning, and the direction of operations/exercises of an inter-service nature in Italy and abroad.
General Bertolini, accompanied by Air Division General Settimo Caputo, Chief of Staff of the COI, was welcomed by Air Division General Roberto Nordio, Commander of the Combat Forces, and Colonel Giancarlo Maragucci, Commander of the 32nd Squadron.
The visit began with a presentation by Colonel Maragucci on the activities of the Squadron, with particular reference to the ongoing operations and future employment programs.
Subsequently, General Bertolini flew the AMX-T aircraft to learn the methods used to plan and carry out certain specific missions conducted in Afghanistan.
To make the operational scenario in flight as realistic as possible, a “Predator” aircraft was also used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), with associated ROVER equipment used to receive Full Motion Video (FMV) from the aircraft to troops deployed on the ground.
Subsequently, the 28th Group of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (A.P.R.) was visited, where the COI Commander witnessed a demonstration of the data processing capabilities derived from a flight mission carried out with the “Predator A and B” aircraft.
General Bertolini, in appreciating the level of professionalism demonstrated in the circumstances, at the time of the traditional signing on the Honor Roll, emphasized that “The Air Force has in Amendola a concentration of important operational capabilities and fundamental professionalism that it is in everyone’s interest to promote and grow.”.
