For the first time, such a complex maintenance activity was carried out in Operativo Theatre
In recent days, at the Al Ali Salem air base, headquarters of the’Comando Nazionale Italiano Aria / Task Force Aria Kuwait, which places its operational structures at the service of the multinational mission Inherent Resolve, the entire engine-propeller block of an aircraft was replaced following a serious malfunction. C-27J aircraft.
Such activity, usually carried out in Patria due to the scarcity of suitable resources in the Operational Theatre, has become necessary in order to minimize the processing times, so that the equipment can be promptly made available to the client. Coalition.
The disadvantage, considering the limited resources available on-site, could have constituted a significant operational criticality; however, this was avoided thanks to the synergistic work of the team. Interforce Summit Operational Command (COVI), of Air and Space Operations Command (COA) And of the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa.
The procedures put in place immediately after the incident were an important demonstration of the capabilities of the national logistics chain, which enabled the entire engine block and some spare parts not available on site to be made available in a very short time from Italy.
The complex operations were coordinated by Commander of the IT NCC AIR /TFA-K, Colonel Matteo Zuliani, who was able to appreciate the responsiveness of the companies based in Italy, in a strategically relevant context such as the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula.
The efficient national support capacity was also made possible thanks to the training of maintenance staff, who are capable of operating in every corner of the world, just as if they were in Italy.
It is also worth highlighting the valuable contribution of the component members Royal Air Force present at Al Salem airport, who promptly made available an appropriate hangar, proving its effectiveness cooperation and interoperability between operational units that are allied.
The work, the result of an effective team effort, was carried out by maintenance team del Albatros Task Group which demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and showed that the Air Force and the Defence are capable of ensuring, even in environments far from the Motherland, the logistical support directly to the forces in operation.
It Albatros Task Group, currently operating from the base in Erbil (Iraq), is part of the’Italian National Contingent Command Air – Task Force Air Kuwait (IT NCC AIR/TFA-K), Since July 2016, it has been among the assets the Italian Air Force makes available to the international anti-ISIS coalition.’Albatross Operating on an EC-27J configuration capable of performing surveillance, protection, and support missions, in 2024 it surpassed the milestone of 10,000 flight hours in theater.
The’Comando Nazionale Italiano Aria / Task Force Aria Kuwait, It was established on October 17, 2014 and is subordinate – for national aspects – to the Inter-Force Operations Command. It participates in the operation Prima Parthica/Inherent Resolve within the International Anti-ISIS Coalition, ensuring the unity of command for the synergistic and coordinated use of the assets provided, deployed in Kuwait and Iraq and engaged in ISR, AAR, Airlift, EW, Medevac, PED, and logistical and administrative support.
