The Italian Air Force AMX aircraft assigned to the ISAF contingent have surpassed 9,000 flying hours. The aircraft, from the 51st Wing of Istrana and the 32nd Wing of Amendola, are part of the “Black Cats” flying unit of the Joint Air Task Force, commanded by Colonel Pilot Francesco Saverio Agresti. They are employed in intelligence, surveillance, and aerial reconnaissance tasks for the Regional Command West, the brigade-based regional command “Sassari” responsible for the ISAF operation in the western part of the country. For the men of the “Black Cats,” commanded by Major Pilot Alberto Faccini, today's milestone, unparalleled by any Italian combat aircraft in operations outside national borders since the end of the Second World War, represents an important and significant achievement that was possible to reach thanks also to the professionalism of the technical personnel responsible for aircraft maintenance. “The use of these aircraft,” stated the commander of Regional Command West, General Manlio Scopigno, “constitutes a resource of fundamental importance within the already effective operations of the Italian-led multinational contingent, particularly strategic in close tactical support missions for ground forces.”.
