From 3 to 7 November, at the “Arturo Ferrarin” military airport in Guidonia, home of the 60th Wing of the Air Force, the experimental trials aimed at the Certification and Qualification of the UH-139D as a suitable helicopter for’Parachutist jump with Freefall Technique (TCL), in favour of the’Carabinieri.
The tests, successfully completed, fit into a broader scenario where the joints of the Airborne Experimentation and Space Division (DASAS), more specifically the Technical Group (TG) and the 311th Flight Group (FG) of the Experimental Flight Department (EFD) provide their specific contribution, in terms of experimentation, development, integration and validation of new weapon systems or those undergoing modifications, to the Directorate of Aeronautical Armaments and Airworthiness (DAAA) for Certification and Qualification.
The’UH-139D of the Carabinieri it will be the first AW-139 helicopter in the fleet to obtain TCL air-drop certification, representing a significant milestone for maintaining the operational capabilities of the Carabinieri.
The activities of Testing, overseen by the RSV, have fostered inter-force synergy, involving the Italian Air Force, the Italian Army and the Carabinieri, and through the participation of multiple Commands and Bodies, such as the 60th Wing of Guidonia, which provided logistical support, and the Paratrooper Brigade Folgore in Pisa, which provided technical staff from the Experiences and Studies Office, and from the General Command of the Carabinieri in Rome, together with personnel from the units of the Carabinieri Aircraft Group in Pratica di Mare and the 1st Parachute Regiment Tuscania and Special Intervention Group (GIS) in Livorno.
The character joint The exercises provided an important opportunity for professional and personal development for all the military personnel involved, as well as a forum for technical and operational dialogue between the three Armed Forces, with a view to the continuous improvement of their respective capabilities.
It Experimental Flight Department It is one of six Departments that fall under DASAS and is tasked with supporting the Operational Departments of the Air Force through the experimentation, development, integration, and validation of new weapon systems or those undergoing modification. In response, then, to the changing geopolitical, social, and economic context, RSV has given significant impetus to activities supporting the Operational Departments, essentially through the tool of operational technical certification which allows for the rapid and autonomous implementation of technological solutions capable of meeting new requirements in hostile theatres.
The Air and Space Experimental Aviation Division brings together, under a single command, all of the Air Force's research and experimental bodies. The Division represents the primary consultancy body for the Armed Force and the Defence Administration for flight testing of aircraft and weapon systems, chemical-physical analysis and evaluation of structural and consumable materials, training and experimentation in the field of aerospace medicine, management of operational software, and operational verification of weapon systems. Furthermore, the DASAS provides technical-logistic and operational support to the bodies of the Air Force and other State Armed Forces and Armed Corps situated on the premises and manages, through the’Air Terminal Operations Centre (A.T.O.C.), flights destined for operations outside national borders. Pratica di Mare airport is the first Italian military airbase for aircraft traffic and movements, and it is also the sole national military health entry point.
The Office Experiences and Studies From the “Folgore” Parachute Brigade, as the Technical Body of the Defence, it remains the national and international technical reference for aerial delivery, both of personnel and of materials and armaments: the development of new systems, the evaluation of procedures, the implementation of safety measures, and constant collaboration with RSV and the 46th Air Brigade guarantee the full effectiveness of the systems and the achievement of the objectives of the entire Defence sector.
