The journey was made from Grazzanise to Pantelleria and back without any technical stops for refueling.
In recent months, the 9th Wing of Grazzanise, dependent on 1st Special Operations Air Brigade of the Air Force, he performed a Demonstration of the Extended Range Night capability by simulating the Rapid projection of a detachment of inshore troops over 350 nautical miles.
The activity took place by flying two HH-101A helicopters from the Grazzanise air base to the military airport on the island of Pantelleria and then return to Grazzanise, without intermediate technical stops, making a total of four refuelling flights during night flights with the help of an aircraft KC-130J tanker of the 46th Air Brigade.
This result was made possible thanks to the ability Extended Range of helicopters HH-101A which allows you to perform the procedure Helicopter Air to Air Refuelling (HAAR), that is, the refueling during flight.
The’High level of training achieved by the flight crews of the 9th Flight Wing and effective synergy with the crews of the 46th Air Brigade they have made it possible to carry out the supplies at night with the presence of strong wind.
It Aerospace Operations Command (COA) has ensured both the coordination and the planning of the activity through Operations Department, also exercising command and control of the demonstration, through the National Air and Space Operations Center (NASOC) that has used the Link-16 data communication system, the radar support of the 22nd Group of Integrated Air and Missile Defense (DAMI) of Licola and the management of operational air traffic Department of Coordination and Control Services of the Air Force (RSCCAM) of Ciampino and of the Brindisi service employee.
The entire operation was monitored by a remote-controlled aircraft Predator MQ-9A del 32nd Wing which retransmitted the Full Motion Video of the event live on the ground.
The excellent success of the demonstration confirmed the ability of the Air Force, and in particular of the 9th Flight, to projecting over long distances in a quick and timely manner The HH-101A weapon system, without intermediate technical stops, is supplied through night refueling provided by the 46th Air Brigade.
Such a capability, expressed by a few air forces in the world, It is the result of intensive training and effective integration between the various air assets and the command chain that operate in support of the Special Operations (ComOS) of the Air Force.
