A complex airborne deployment took place at the Lancio area of Altopascio (Lucca), during which two C-130J and a C-27J of the 46th Air Brigade of the Aeronautica Militare stationed in Pisa, flying in formation, simultaneously dropped over 130 paratroopers from the Folgore Brigade.
The activity, which falls within the framework of the continuous, close exchange of collaboration and cooperation between the Army and the Air Force, had the aim of verifying and increasing the level of readiness and interoperability, aiming to improve the Italian Defense’s ability to deploy quickly and over long distances, units capable of conducting operations typical of the paratrooper specialty.
The activity is of particular importance also in terms of employment and integration at the international level, as it is a practice of aerial launch used by Allied countries that are part of the NATO airborne community and is one of the important events in preparation for the Swift Response 2025 exercise, to which Italy will also participate.
The 46th Air Brigade is an Air Force unit equipped with two types of transport aircraft: the C-130J and the C-27J, both of which can be used for various purposes. It operates 365 days a year and deploys its men and women and its aircraft throughout the world in a variety of institutional activities, including: – Airlift; – Personnel and material airlift; – Transport of materials, equipment and crews; – Tactical operations.
Mass airborne deployment represents one of the most complex capabilities, which is implemented by deploying more aircraft of the same or a different type, led by highly trained personnel. The Folgore Paratrooper Brigade is the combat unit with specialized capabilities of the Italian Army, capable of expressing effective, versatile and “full spectrum” operational capabilities, according to the principle of maximum inter-arms, inter-force and multinational interoperability.
