Air Squad Command – 1st Air Region Command
The Air Squad Command – 1st Air Region Command is headquartered in Milan and is the senior Command of the Armed Force's operational and training organisation. It is headed by an Air Squad General directly subordinate to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. It carries out the preparation and operational functions of the Aerospace Instrument. Following its amalgamation with the 1st Air Region, it also ensures territorial functions and liaison with local entities and administrations.
The Aerospace Operations Command (COA), as an Air Component Command of the Air Force, ensures the effective employment of aerospace power. It also represents the single point of contact for the Air Force for Air Defence, Missile Defence, and for the coordination and control of Operational Air Traffic (OAT), Search and Rescue missions, and military air transport. The COA also constitutes the “operational staff” of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force in his capacity as CFA (Commander of Air Forces).
The COA, with the establishment of the Space Situational Awareness Centre (C-SSA), ensures the Defence's contribution to the generation and distribution of services. SSpace Situational Awareness (SSA) / Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST).
The COA is tasked with preparing and training personnel to operate within national, multinational, and coalition Command and Control structures, or within NATO and European Union organisations. It is also responsible for ensuring a rapid and smooth transition of the C2 structure from peacetime to crisis/conflict by means of an initial Joint Force Air Component (Core JFAC) nucleus that ensures the necessary preparations.
The COA therefore represents the doctrinal reference point for the Armed Force regarding the use and development of Aerospace power.
The Combat Forces Command is assigned the mission of acquiring and maintaining the operational readiness of all Air Force combat assets, ensuring the operational efficiency of weapon systems, equipment, and materials, the training and standardisation of personnel, and the constant updating and optimisation of operational procedures.
The Command for Mobility and Support Forces is assigned the mission of acquiring and maintaining the operational readiness of all assets dedicated to supporting combat forces, ensuring their constant updating and the optimisation of deployment procedures. The C.F.M.S. ensures the preparation of personnel, the readiness of issued equipment, as well as their relative protection and projection in various operational scenarios. The totality of the operational capabilities that can be expressed includes, among others, Airlift Transportation, Air-to-Air Refueling, Force Protection, and Search and Rescue (SAR).
The 9th ISTAR-EW Brigade conducts operational, intelligence, and support activities in the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) sectors, by virtue of its assigned responsibilities, including support to joint, allied, and coalition components.
The 1st Special Operations Air Brigade ensures the qualification, training, specialisation and readiness of Divers, Special Operations Tactical Support Forces and Special Operations Flight Crews, guaranteeing the constant updating, standardisation and interoperability of tactics, techniques and procedures at the Armed Force, joint and international levels.
To ensure the full spectrum of Special Operations (SO) is accomplished, Personnel Recovery in a non-permissive environment, and to express the capabilities necessary to form the framework of a Joint Special Operation Air Task Group (J.S.O.A.T.G.);
It also guarantees resource management, the efficiency of Weapon Systems, and contributes to the development of doctrine and operating procedures for the subordinate units.
Logistics Command
The Aeronautical Military Logistics Command (COMLOG) is based in Rome and is the Top Command of the Armed Force's logistical organisation. It is headed by an Air Squadron General who reports to the Chief of Staff. Through this High Command, the Chief of Staff exercises the Armed Force's technical, logistical and administrative responsibilities and guarantees the necessary support to enable its maximum operational capability.
D.A.S.A.S.
The Air and Space Aeronautical Experimentation Division is established to address, with interdisciplinary methodologies (technical-operational, engineering, and medical from the aeronautical sector, and chemical-physical and health-related) and in synergy with national and international aeronautical centres of excellence, the activities of study, experimentation, testing, technical-operational evaluation, and research support for new aeronautical weapon systems, also for the benefit of other Armed Forces and/or State Armed Corps, when required. D.A.S.A.S. is located on the site of the “Mario de Bernardi” military airport in Pratica di Mare (Rome).
The 2nd Division of the Logistic Command issues technical regulations concerning the deployment, maintenance, and quality control of the systems within its remit, participating in the study, modernisation, and enhancement activities of the various programmes, and following national and international study and research activities.
The Division also provides technical directives for carrying out maintenance at maintenance centres and the technical sections of flight departments.
The 3rd Division ensures operational, technical, and logistical support services in the areas of operation and maintenance of Air Defence systems, flight assistance, telecommunications, and meteorology. Furthermore, it oversees the operation and maintenance of automated systems, taking care of the training of technical personnel.
Ensures technical efficiency and logistical support in the sectors:
for the purpose of ensuring the operational capability of the Armed Forces’ bodies and departments, both domestically and abroad.
It guarantees the logistic and financial support necessary for the operation of the Entities and oversees the administrative and accounting management both nationally and internationally.
The functions are carried out by two Departments:
The Logistic Command's Infrastructure Service is responsible for planning, programming, and finalising all infrastructural activities necessary for the maintenance/upgrading of the Italian Air Force's property portfolio.
The Aeronautica Militare Health Service of the Logistics Command is responsible for studies and programmes in the health sector, Aeronautica Militare forensic medicine, occupational medicine, the procurement of medical supplies, aeromedical safety, hygiene, assistance, and rehabilitation.
Inter-force Experimental and Training Parachute Range Di Quirra
The Salto di Quirra Interforce Experimental and Training Range (PISQ), established in 1956, comprises the “ground” Perdasdefogu Range (Ogliastra), the headquarters, and the Capo S. Lorenzo Detachment with the “sea” range. It operates with personnel from the Air Force, Italian Army, and Navy, and ensures the execution of experimental tests of missiles and targets, qualification tests for new weapon systems, as well as testing and quality verification of series production of armaments. Furthermore, it carries out training activities for national and foreign units and collaborates with national and foreign scientific bodies. The Range is equipped with a sophisticated data detection network, consisting of a radar tracking chain and optical and telemetric detection systems, which represents a unique facility of its kind in Italy.
Every operation must be carried out in compliance with an Environmental Protection Charter, aimed at ensuring the minimum environmental impact of the activities. The adoption of environmental procedures in line with the main national regulations has enabled the Range to achieve ISO 14001 Environmental Certification.
The Experimental and Standardisation Department for Aerial Shooting (RSSTA) at Decimomannu (Cagliari) is dependent on the PISQ.
Command of the Air Force Schools / 3rd Air Region
The Air Force Schools Command / 3rd Air Region Command is headquartered in Bari and is the apex command of the Armed Force's training organisation. It is headed by an Air Force General who reports to the Chief of Staff. Through this High Command, the Chief of Staff exercises responsibilities regarding the recruitment, selection, training, and basic specialist qualification of Air Force personnel belonging to all categories, as well as the initial flight training of aircrew personnel, also from other Armed Forces or police forces, aimed at obtaining a military pilot or navigator licence. Following the merger with the 3rd Air Region Command, the High Command also ensures territorial functions and liaison with local authorities and administrations.
