The international exercise (Improvised Explosive Device Disposal PRActical EXercise) was organised by the newly formed AM EOD Centre of the 1st BAOS.
The tenth edition of the exercise concluded on Friday 11 October, after two weeks of intense activity. IEDD PRAEX to which four EOD Teams participated, one from 31and End of day Flight of the’Royal Air Force, one of the’EADAAir Deployment Support SquadronSpanish, one of the’AIR FORCE German along with the Air Force Team consisting of an operator from the 16th Force Protection Wing, one 31st Wing and one of the 51st Wing. The exercise was attended, in addition to the Instructors of the EOD Operations Centre AM, established last June as the heir to the EOR/EOD Section of 17th Attack Wing, the dog handlers too Centre for Canine Studies A.M. and the CEMIVET (Military Veterinary Centre) of the Army, and two EDD unit (Explosive Detection Dog – canine units trained in explosive detection), made available by Spain, to support the activities of the EOD AM Centre the 9th Wing in Grazzanise which made available an STOS operator (Special Tactical Operations Support) specialised in the specific sector.
The objective of the exercise was to increase the level of cooperation and training in the recognition, securing, and destruction of improvised and conventional explosive devices. The practical activities were preceded by a FIT phase Strength Integration Training where operators from the different armed forces were able to familiarise themselves with the equipment of other nations. Instructors from the AM EOD centre, with the support of an operator from the 31stand EOD Flight (American unit dedicated to fighting permanently deployed ordnance at Aviano Air Basehave developed various scenarios, training and exercises, at the Furbara airport site, home of the 17th Raiders Wing, and the related Training Area located near Lake Bracciano. The teams simulated deployment to a Multinational Task Force during a CRO (Crisis Response OperationNumerous activities were carried out, including securing a so-called “cache”, a protected location used as a clandestine storage for weapons and explosives; dismantling a site where devices are assembled; identifying and disarming drones modified to explode on impact. New this year was the introduction of a “dismounted operation”, meaning operations carried out in environments not reachable by normal means, which require operators to dismount and therefore use packable equipment, and which are consequently conducted using VTLM (Veicolo Tattico Leggero Multiruolo), commonly referred to as “Lince”.
The event, which is part of the supported exchange programme by’Eagle (European Air Group, it is held annually, with the aim of promoting and facilitating both training and exercises, as well as the exchange of personnel, information and experience between the Air Forces of the member countries in the field of Survive to Operate And of the Force Protection, to address increasingly complex modern crises.
It EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Centre AM, Organically part of the 1st Air Brigade O.S., it is mainly formed by qualified instructor personnel from the Air Force EOD. It is equipped with remote-controlled robotic vehicles, among which the Mini Caliber stands out, allowing direct intervention on Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threats, and can also be transported by helicopter thanks to its backpackable capability. Unique in its field, it has been identified as the Competent Technical Body of the Air Force for the sector concerning the counteraction of explosive devices and the training of personnel of the entire Armed Force. The 1st Air Brigade for Special Operations (BAOS) ensures the qualification, training, specialisation and readiness of Special Forces (Incursori), Special Operations Air Support Forces (S.A.O.S.), and for Personnel Recovery activities, guaranteeing the constant updating, standardisation and interoperability of tactics, techniques, and procedures at the level of the Armed Force, Joint Forces, Inter-agency, and International.
Furthermore, it is tasked with outlining the capabilities required to establish a highly specialised, versatile, and operationally ready Joint Special Operation Air Task Group (J.S.O.A.T.G.) for exercises and operations. The 17th Wing Incursori (Commandos) of Furbara and the 9th Wing of Grazzanise are subordinate to the 1st BAOS. The 1st BAOS is hierarchically subordinate to the Air Squadron Command/1st Air Region of Milan.
