From 16 to 20 March, at the site of 4th Italian Army Regiment “Altair” in Bolzano, the 3rd Wing of the Air Force in Villafranca he planned and conducted the’Exercise “Scaligera 2026”, training activity aimed at enhancing the capabilities of Combat Service Support, with particular focus on rapid deployment and immediate activation of logistical capabilities in complex operational contexts.
The main objective of the exercise was to train personnel to redeploy, in extremely short timescales, and make operational an initial core of Deployable Operating Base, operating in a dynamic and realistic scenario, in full adherence to the concept of Agile Combat Employment.
A distinctive element of this exercise has been the integration and experimentation with five next-generation configurations, currently being studied by various entities in the national industry, intended to increase the capacity Rapid Airfield Operational System of the Department, with a significant improvement in terms of readiness speed and resilience of redeployed infrastructures.
In the course of the phase LiveX, the 3rd Wing personnel were faced with a series of complex and highly realistic operational scenarios that simulated the management of and response to hostile events and threats. The Force Protection Group (GPF) has operated in close synergy with the teams Explosive Ordnance Disposal End of day Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) of Mobile Operating Support Group, ensuring an integrated and coordinated response throughout all intervention phases, from threat detection and assessment to its neutralization and subsequent securing of the area.
In parallel, an activity was conducted pilot extraction in an environment contaminated by an Italian Army Aviation helicopter, curated by Team Pilot Extraction CBRN is an activity of Gravity feed, still from an Aviation helicopter of the Italian Army, carried out by personnel Forward Arming Refuelling Point (FARP) at the Salorno Polygon of the Italian Army, in the province of Bolzano, confirming the capacity for inter-force collaboration.
The exercise confirmed the 3rd Wing's ability to ensure a rapid and effective deployment of its logistical capabilities, operating with readiness and flexibility in highly complex contexts and contributing decisively to the support of Air Force operations with a view to Agile Combat Employment.
The 3rd Wing, an entity dependent on Support Services del Logistics Command, ensuring operational and logistical support for all Armed Forces units called upon to operate away from their home bases. In carrying out its duties, the Scaligera Base plans, prepares and deploys capability packages to support the creation of airport logistical, technical and operational capabilities that the Air Force employs both nationally and internationally, guaranteeing the interoperability and readiness of the Armed Forces' advanced logistical components.
