From 27 January, F-35 aircraft from the 32nd Wing will provide NATO Quick Reaction Alert service.
The 32nd Wing, who alreadyl March 2018 contributes to Air Defence national, starting from Today it will ensure, seamlessly – with F-35 aircraftA assigned to the 13th Flying Group – NATO QRA service tooQuick Reaction Alertto defend the airspace of the’Alliance Atlantica.
In the case of a potential order of “scramble” on behalf of competent Combined Air Operations Centre NATO's CAOC, the 5th-generation aircrafta F-35 generation aircraft will take off in just a few minutes to intercept and locate any suspicious aircraft, contributing with specific operational capabilities and latest-generation technology to the early warning service.
The 13th Flight Group, which already has considerable experience in the international arena, participating in activities such as NATO Air Policing in Iceland andd In Estonia, as well as ensuring the service of QRA from its home base, it will continue to train its crews in parallel on the multiple and further uses the platform allows. The F-35 aircraft is, in fact, a 5th generation weapons systema equipped with a spectrum of operational capabilities that allows for the simultaneous and autonomous execution of all air-tactical doctrine missions.
The 32nd Wing, based in Amendola (Foggia), is one of the Air Force's flying Units, under the command of the Air Squad Command in Rome, via the Combat Forces Command in Milan. The first Unit in Europe to operate the F-35A aircraft, since March 2018 it has been integrated into the National Air Defence system, contributing to the defence of Italian skies with specific operational capabilities and latest-generation technology. After achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2018, since 2019 it has participated in NATO Air Policing operations abroad Yesnational borders. Since February 2020, the 32nd Wing is the only unit in the European theatre that jointly employs both the F-35A (CTOL) and the F-35B (STOVL), contributing to the Armed Force's expeditionary capability with the 5th generation aircraft. Furthermore, by employing the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) MQ1-C and MQ9-A, the Unit carries out missions in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance (I.S.T.A.R.), both national and Ccoalitions. Finally, through the MB-339 aircraft, the 32nd Wing completes the training of RPAS pilots to maintain an adequate operational level on traditionally piloted aircraft.
