Italian Air Force in Zaragoza with the Italian Army for the multinational NATO airborne exercise
The 46th Air Brigade of Pisa together with the “Folgore” Parachute Brigade” participated in the last few days in the Swift Response 23, the most important training event dedicated to airborne troops within NATO, which aims to improve airmobile operations capabilities and strengthen existing ties in the airborne community international, increasing interoperability with Partner allies.
The multinational exercise took place from 8th to 11th May in Spain, between Zaragoza airport and the San Gregorio training area, and involved more than 2,000 military personnel originating from Six NationsFrance, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United States, and Hungary.
The Italian participation involved the use of assets and personnel from the Italian Air Force and the Italian Army: for the occasion, manoeuvring and reconnaissance units of the 183rd Parachute Regiment “Nembo”, assets of the Parachute Training Centre, Team of the’8th Parachute Sappers Engineer Regiment“ and a C-130J of the 46th Air Brigade.
In total, the aircraft used were: 6 American C-17s and 1 C-130J; 2 Spanish A-400s and 1 C-295; 1 Italian C-130J.
During the exercise, amongst the numerous activities carried out, the live airdrop of the JPADS system was performed (Joint Precision Air Delivery), a precision aerial delivery system, which is an autonomous GPS guidance system, known as an AGU (Autonomous Guidance Unit), which allows high-altitude airdrops of material with precise landing on a pre-determined impact point. Acquired by the Armed Forces in the 2000s, it has been fully qualified on the C-130J aircraft through a campaign of Operational Test and Evaluation carried out by the 46th Air Brigade, from Experimental Flight Department and from Folgore Brigade.
Participation in the exercise also made it possible to maintain the training levels and operational specialisation of the crews of the 46th Air Brigade, as well as to consolidate interoperability with the “Folgore” Parachute Brigade, which provided support for the rigging of equipment in special containers and/or on specific platforms.
Swift Response 23 is the first of the three main exercises that make up the DEFENDER 23 (Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness 2023), the USAREUR-AF guideUnited States Army Europe and Africa), with the aim of enhancing the capability to conduct large-scale manoeuvres in Europe, under the leadership of multinational forces.
