Successfully completed the 40th “Weapon Instructor Course” (WIC) two pilots become Weapons Instructors for the Eurofighter line.
Serving with the 4th Wing in Grosseto and the 36th Wing in Gioia del Colle respectively, the two new instructors had to undertake a long and complex course which was structured into a theoretical phase and a practical flying phase; the latter organised and managed by the 20th OCU Group (Operational Conversion Unit– Standardisation and Operations Tactics Section – of the 4th Wing, with the support of Weapon Instructor supported by other Squadrons equipped with the Eurofighter fighter jet.
The course WIC enabled attendees to acquire specific skills in solving tactical problems, through the application of various planning methodologies in the exercise of Leadership, in the roles of Mission Commander (MC) e Team Leader (TL) and in organisational and communication skills, especially in contexts of Large Force Employment (LFE) where different types of aircraft are present, with different capabilities that the Mission Commander it must be able to manage, coordinate and make interoperable, to achieve maximum effectiveness and success of the activity.
Completion of this course enables trained pilots to take up the roles of Tactical Mentor, i.e. consultants to the Wing and Group Commanders for the optimal management of the Weapon System's capabilities in more or less complex tactical scenarios, while ensuring operational standardisation for the Eurofighter Line.
The 40th edition of the WIC course was characterised by the online introduction of the new P2E software and the opportunity for attending pilots to participate in the Iris T Missile launch campaign; an activity managed by the Systems Section of the 20th OCU Group of the 4th Wing.
The theoretical phase of the course, managed Air Warfare Centre (AWC) has planned a series of lessons with all the course participants from different Armed Forces Bodies. This phase was followed by a specific F2000A phase at the Flight Experimental Department.Software Management Group, which allowed instructors to perfect their knowledge of the Weapon System's avionics and related Mission Data, i.e. all the data necessary for the correct operation of the equipment, thanks to the teaching of highly qualified Armed Forces personnel in collaboration with those of the Leonardo company.
Flight training, however, was divided into three distinct phases. An initial, preliminary phase with combat Within Visual Range (WVR), which also provided for “dissimilar” missions, i.e. with aircraft other than fighters, therefore with the T-346A of the 212th Flying Group of the 61st Wing.
The advanced phase, however, allowed the attending instructors to use the “Beyond Visual Range”for the resolution of tactical issues, specific to each mission that the aircraft can carry out, through the application of different planning methodologies. This phase was in turn divided into a first part characterised by simulator activities“Typhoon Exercise 22”at the 36th Wing at Gioia del Colle (BA), where missions were also flown with F35A aircraft of the 13th Group of the 32nd Wing at Amendola (FG) to foster integration between 4th and 5th generation assets. Various Departments were involved in this phase, such as the 14th Wing at Pratica di Mare, with CAEW and KC-767A assets, as well as ground forces of the Italian Army belonging to the 3rd Regiment “Savoia Cavalry” and the Special Forces of the 185th RRAO.
The final phase of the course concluded with a complex mission (COMAO/LFE) for integrated and combined employment with other assets. This phase was carried out during the “Cobra Warrior 22-2” exercise, where attendees were able to manage the aircraft participating in the COMAO, holding the roles of Team Leader and Mission Commander in various mission types such as: Integrated Air Missile Defence, Air Interdiction, Dynamic Targeting, Strategic Attack, NEO, Personnel Recovery, and Escort with assets from the Royal Air Force, German Air Force, and USAFE.
The course then concluded with the submission of a thesis assigned during the theoretical phase.
The 20th OCU (Operational Conversion Unit), as part of the 4th Wing which reports to the Combat Forces Command (CFC) in Milan, is tasked with training pilots assigned to the F-2000 frontline, ensuring standardisation between Eurofighter Operational Squadrons, contributing to National Airspace Surveillance, ensuring advanced training through Weapon Instructor Courses, validating and coordinating the implementation of new tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as supporting the Experimental Flight Department during operational verification campaigns of the F-2000 Weapon System.
