Italian Air Force, Italian Red Cross Voluntary Military Corps and Civil Protection: “Teamwork” for the ELETTRA 2024 exercise
Check the capacity of deployment of CIS services (Communications and Information Systems) in support of the Air Force's operational activities and to enhance the Civil-military cooperation in the event of natural disasters, in coordination with the Civil Protection and the Italian Red Cross.
These were the main objectives of the’Exercise “Elettra”, planned and conducted by 4a Telecommunications and Air Defence Systems Brigade and Flight Assistance of Borgo Piave (LT), and which involved means and personnel from Air Force Bodies and Departments, including the Aeronautical and Space Experimentation Air Division (D.A.S.A.S.) of Pratica di Mare, the Communication Technical Departments of Linate (MI) and Bari, the Automated Information Systems Department (RESIA) of Rome, the Command and Control System Innovation Management Department (REGISCC) of Pratica di Mare, the 3rd Wing of Villafranca, the 131sta Jacotenente Remote Radar Squadron (FG), the Poggio Renatico Air Defence Brigade (FE), the 4th Wing of Grosseto, the 70th Wing of Latina, the 32nd Wing and the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Centre of Excellence of Amendola (FG). For this edition, the Italian Red Cross Volunteer Military Corps (C.R.I.) and the National Carabinieri Association (ANC) Civil Protection of Latina also participated.
The Exercise Director, Colonel Claudio Enrico Maria Passalacqua in their presentation briefing, they outlined the scenario generated by a hypothesis of “onecatastrophic wind that, in addition to causing numerous fatalities, has drastically reduced the operational capacity of civilian structures, including the main civilian airport, thereby compromising air transport capabilities, in application of safety protocols for the transport of severely injured patients to appropriately equipped hospitals. Furthermore, cyber-attacks aimed at disabling critical infrastructure and communication systems with the goal of undermining the conduct of relief operations have been hypothesised. prejudicing also the safety of an operational area in proximity to the 4th Brigade's base”. In this context, the Armed Force was asked to set up, at the Borgo Piave base, a Main Operating Base (Mob) which houses facilities of the Italian Red Cross and Civil Protection for the assistance of the local population and of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at the 131st SRR in Jacotenente.
Upon receipt of the activation order the Task Units (TUs) they have promptly deployed and installed the CIS Deployable components, in order to achieve the Initial Operational Capability (IOC). Subsequently, the technical-operational tests and checks ensured that the same Trade Unions declared full operational capability, thereby ensuring, without interruption, reliable communications for the smooth running of operations
The 4a Brigade then activated a Defensive and health emergency plan creating a CIS network architecture (radar detection with sensors, radio and telephone communications, local defence communications, telematic and weather services), distributed across the relevant sites.
The exercise was an opportunity to test the technical capabilities of newly acquired radar sensors for detecting small aircraft and ballistic missiles. (BMD – Ballistic Missile Detection) and consolidate the CIS architecture to support the anti-drone system ACUS-E (AMI CCounter UAs Ssystem-EEnhanced.
During the “LIVEX” phase of the exercise, the reaction capabilities of the organisational units involved were observed in the face of “injections”simulating critical and complex situations which could potentially occur in reality.
On Monday 30th September, at the MOB site, the Dignitary / Media Day, to which military and civilian authorities participated, including the Logistic Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Antonio Conserva, the Prefect of Latina, H.E. Dr. Vittoria Ciaramella, the National Vice President and Supervisor of Volunteering and Civil Protection – ANC, Army Corps General (retired) Claudio Vincelli, the Commander of the 3ª Logistic Command Division, Brigadier General Sandro Sanasi and the Commander of the 4ª Brigadier, Brigadier General Pietro Spagnoli, The (retired) Colonel Gerardo Di Ruocco, representing the National Inspector of the Military Volunteer Corps of the Italian Red Cross.
Following a briefing on the exercise and a visit to the deployed assets, the Authorities witnessed a Air ambulance simulation for casualties and first aid response which saw the field medical personnel playing a leading role. After receiving an injured person transported by an HH139B helicopter from the 15th Wing – 85th SAR (Search & Rescue) Group, they activated emergency medical rescue procedures with a team made up of medical and nursing staff from the Italian Red Cross and the 4th Brigade.
It Commander of the Air Force Logistics Command, Air Division General Antonio Conserva, in his concluding remarks, highlighted how “…the ELETTRA exercise marks an important milestone, reaching its eighth edition, each time more challenging. This year the exercise is aimed at testing the ability to cooperate with the Italian Red Cross and the National Carabinieri Association Civil Protection to manage the flow of communications in control rooms during an emergency situation. All this was also possible thanks to meticulous planning down to the smallest detail and continuous training, both essential aspects to ensure the Armed Force is always ready to intervene, in synergy with other State organisations and bodies: a team ever-widening so as to be able to operate in perfect synchronism.”
