An absolutely significant result for the Special Operations component of the Air Force: the 17th Attack Wing has obtained official accreditation from the’Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) certification, which attests full interoperability with the United States Armed Forces in strategic activities Global Access Operations (GAO). With this recognition, Italy becomes the First NATO nation to achieve this qualification, projecting the qualified Commandos Combat Controller – within the select group of units capable of operating jointly with United States Air Force Special Operations Command (USAFSOC) in complex, dynamic, and multi-domain threat scenarios.
AFSOC accreditation represents the outcome of a long and structured evaluation process, initiated in July 2023, comprising documentary, procedural, and technical-operational checks, and on-site tests conducted under the direct supervision of US instructors and evaluators. The cycle concluded with the validation of the qualifying course. Combat Controller Skill Level 1 (CCSL?1), which in its latest edition involved the students of the 9th BIAM Course (Brevetto Incursore dell’Aeronautica Militare). The training activities included operations in difficult terrain, night scenarios and semi-permissive contexts, reproducing operational conditions consistent with advanced projection missions.
The 17th Incursori Wing is the only unit of the Italian Defence to express the capability. Combat Control, an asset that enables the Armed Force to guarantee the possibility of projecting its force rapidly, precisely, and interoperably.
The qualification of Combat Controller Indeed, it allows for the assurance of safety and the management of landing and take-off operations on semi-prepared or improvised runways, in remote, austere, or hostile areas, while simultaneously ensuring the assessment of landing zones, terrain analysis, and military and civilian air traffic control. It is a capability of extremely high strategic value, essential for joint operations, special missions, and international crisis scenarios.
The’AFSOC accreditation certifies the full synergy between the Italian Air Force's Special Forces and US and allied air components, consolidating Italy's role as a key and interoperable player within the framework of NATO Special Operations.
The result represents a prestigious achievement not only for the 17th Wing but for the entire Italian Defence, confirming its capacity to produce highly qualified personnel with advanced technical-military skills and resilience. A decisive step, therefore, which strengthens the national aerospace posture and increases Italy's operational weight in global scenarios characterised by multi-domain threats and the need for rapid, precise, and integrated responses.
