On Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 April, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Squad General Antonio Conserva, accompanied by the Commander of Mobility and Support Forces, Air Vice-Marshal Alessandro De Lorenzo, _, carried out an institutional visit to the 16th “Force Protection” Wing of Martina Franca.
To welcome the highest authority of the Armed Force, the Wing Commander, Colonel Mario Cito. The latter gave the introductory briefing, illustrating the main operational commitments of the Air Riflemen, constantly employed in activities of home security and in Cross-Border Operations, and the ongoing infrastructure modernisation plan, as a concrete expression of the Department's commitment to innovation, efficiency and high operational readiness, and the enhancement of personnel, as a resource at the service of the Country.
During the meeting with military and civilian staff, and union representatives of the Department, General Conserva expressed his sincere appreciation for the professionalism, enthusiasm, and spirit of service that distinguish the 16th Wing “P.F.”. The discussion was a significant moment of dialogue and listening, with particular attention paid to issues of training, skills development, and personnel deployment policies.
In his speech, the General Store He reiterated the importance of the continuous evolution of operational capabilities, focusing on technologies, equipment, and professional training, using the Air Riflemen component as an example, also in its decisive role in anti-drone management. Fundamental elements for ensuring the effectiveness of the aerospace tool are cohesion and attention to human resources, considering that «The Air Force is first and foremost its personnel: women and men who, every day, in all departments across the country, make the accomplishment of our missions possible. Investing in people, in their training and their well-being, represents the fundamental strategic choice to guarantee an Air Force that is always ready and effective.
It General Store He also met the Mayor at the Ducal Palace of Martina Franca, the seat of the city's Town Hall, the Dr Gianfranco Palmisano, a testament to the deep historical bond between the Air Force and the Valle d'Itria.
The visit continued with a tour of the Wing's logistical infrastructure and operational areas, during which some of the Department's main capabilities were presented in a tactical demonstration event: the conduct of motorised patrols, the joint deployment of canine units from the Grosseto Canine Centre, the use of C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems) simulating the response to drone threats, as well as JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) operations with Air Rifleman personnel engaged in directing aircraft in simulated ground attack.
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The 16th Wing is the Air Riflemen Department. Since 2004 it has been based at Martina Franca and is under the command of the Mobility and Support Forces Command and the Air Force/1 Command.a Air Region. Its primary task is to ensure, according to the assigned readiness levels, the operational capability of the specialised components of Force Protection for Air Operations, to ensure participation in the protection of personnel, weapon systems, means and materials, as well as areas, sites and infrastructures of particular interest to the Armed Force, located on national territory or abroad.
Since 2004, it has operated in 42 different international missions, in 21 operational theatres worldwide, accumulating over 40,000 flight hours, 27,000 of which were for the safety of Air Force aircraft and those on board.
Within national territory, among the countless operations carried out, the C-UAS activity for the G7 Summit, for Pope Francis's funeral, and for the election of the new Pontiff, Pope Leo, and for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are mentioned.
The War Flag of the 16th Wing “Force Protection” was decorated with a Silver Medal of Aeronautic Valor, for Operation ISAF in Afghanistan and with a Gold Medal of Aeronautic Valor, for Operation “Aquila Omnia”, by the President of the Republic.
