Tuesday 24th June, at Cerklje airbase in Slovenia, the Adriatic Strike 2025, one of the most important joint air and land force exercises by 31 NATO member and partner countries. A team of Airborne Gunners qualified Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) of the 16th Wing from Martina Franca (TA) operated side by side with all the Allied formations that participated in the exercise.
For a week, personnel from the 16th Wing have been engaged in various training areas located throughout Slovenia, collaborating with ground units and air assets in highly complex combat scenarios. After an initial phase dedicated to deployment in the training area and tactical planning, the exercise entered its main phase with large-scale ground manoeuvres, characterised by the presence of advanced threats, including integrated air defence systems.
The operations involved integration with NATO tactical air assets, employed on missions of Close Air Support (CAS) to neutralise armoured columns, hostile positions and in operations of Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD), aim at suppressing enemy air defences, as well as activities Warm (i.e. with the use of live ammunition) and laser within the Pocek training range (SLO). Among the air assets that carried out CAS activities were Eurofighters from the 51st Wing Istrana equipped with LDP (laser designator) pods, which, taking off from Istrana airport, conducted numerous missions in Slovenia in support of ground forces. These were supplemented by night and day urban patrol activities and helicopter transport to reach various operational areas, which were often inaccessible and isolated. Completing the intense training programme were activities in simulators and the deployment of operators in sheltered positions in various TOCs (Tactical Operations Centre) of Brigade and Battalion in support of other JTACs operating in the field.
A large number of aircraft were involved, both fixed-wing such as the Z242L and PC9M, Slovenian B412 and B206, Dutch L39, German LJ35 and PC9B, Austrian PC7, French M2000, Turkish CN235, Croatian PC9 and Italian Eurofighter Typhoon, and rotary-wing AS532, Slovenian B412 and B206, Montenegrin B505 and B421, Spanish EC665 and Croatian OH58D, whose operations were coordinated by JTAC personnel, the cornerstone of the exercise. In this context, operating alongside NATO counterparts in a highly complex operational environment, the Air Force JTACs coordinated close air support.Close Air Support – CAS). Regarding this, the Italian JTAC Team Leader, Warrant Officer FCA Dario S., highlighted that during activities “[…] we have ensured the maximum effectiveness of offensive manoeuvres. The Sergeant Major then continued... constant and essential training with the Armed Forces belonging to the Atlantic Alliance in such complex and challenging scenarios, improves interoperability between the various assets employed, both in air and ground activities.“
Participation in Adriatic Strike 2025 is part of a broader training path that sees the Air Riflemen constantly engaged in high-profile national and international exercises. Through continuous and realistic training, FCA personnel strengthen their capabilities in the broad spectrum of Force Protection for Air Operations, ensuring excellent operational standards in increasingly challenging scenarios.
It 16th Wing of Martina Franca (TA) It is the Air Riflemen Department. Since 2004, it has been based at Martina Franca (TA) and is under the command of the Mobility and Support Forces Command and the Air Squadron Command. Its main task is to ensure, according to assigned readiness levels, the operational capability of the specialist components of Force Protection for Air Operations, in order to contribute to the protection of personnel, weapon systems, vehicles and materials, as well as areas, sites and infrastructures of particular interest to the Armed Force, located on national territory or abroad.
The War Flag of the 16th Wing “Force Protection” has been decorated with a Gold and a Silver Medal of Aeronautical Valor by the President of the Republic.
It 51st Wing of Istrana (Treviso) It is under the command of the Combat Forces Command (CFC) in Milan, whose assigned mission is to acquire and maintain the operational readiness of all air defence, attack and reconnaissance units, ensuring the operational efficiency of weapon systems, equipment and materials, as well as personnel training and the constant updating and optimisation of operational procedures, in accordance with the guidelines of the Higher Commands. The CFC is under the command of the Air Squadron Command \ 1st Air Region in Milan, which exercises its powers regarding the training, preparation and operational readiness of its Units, so that they acquire and maintain the planned levels of operational readiness. The 51st Wing, equipped with F2000 aircraft, in addition to supporting surface forces and carrying out attack and reconnaissance operations, is one of the five Wings of the Air Force that ensure national air defence and service Quick Reaction Alert of NATO.
