First operational “scramble” as part of the NATO Air Policing mission over Montenegro, which began last June. Two Eurofighter jets from the Italian Air Force’s 36th Wing, on NATO alert duty, took off this morning from Gioia del Colle Air Base (BA) to intercept an aircraft operated by the German airline TUI Fly flying over Montenegro, en route to Hurghada (Egypt), which had lost radio contact with air traffic control (ATC). The order for an immediate take-off – known in technical jargon as a “scramble” – was issued by the CAOC (Combined Air Operations Centre) in Torrejón, Spain, the NATO body responsible for the area, in coordination with the Air Operations Command (COA) in Poggio Renatico and the Italian Armed Forces units tasked with monitoring national and NATO airspace. The “fighter control” personnel of the 22nd Radar Group at Licola provided the Eurofighter pilots in flight with the information needed to intercept the aircraft, which was about to enter the airspace of Montenegro and Albania, both NATO member states whose air defence is provided on a daily basis by Italy, through the operational assets of the Italian Air Force, and by Greece. Upon reaching the area in question, the two interceptor fighters identified the civilian aircraft via the required VId (Visual Identification) and, once radio communications had been re-established, returned to base. The complex defence system through which the Italian Air Force ensures continuous surveillance of national airspace is integrated, even in peacetime, with that of other NATO member states. The alert chain for this type of incident and for airspace violations stipulates that the order for immediate fighter deployment (“scramble”) is issued by the CAOC (Combined Air Operations Centre) in Torrejón (Spain), the NATO body responsible for airspace surveillance in the area, whose national counterpart is the Air Operations Centre at Poggio Renatico. There are three Wings equipped with Eurofighter aircraft, which the Italian Air Force deploys for air defence duties: the 4th Wing at Grosseto, the 36th Wing at Gioia del Colle and the 37th Wing at Trapani, which also take turns, as required, to staff a temporary unit at the 51st Wing’s base in Istrana. The chain also includes the 11th D.A.M.I. Group (Integrated Missile Air Defence) Group in Poggio Renatico (FE) and the 22nd Radar Group in Licola (NA), which are responsible for directing air defence assets by providing the information necessary to intercept potential aerial threats. Airspace monitoring is carried out by specialised and trained personnel, who hold the qualification of Surveillance Controller or Interception Controller. The National Air Operations Centre (IT-AOC) performs key tasks in organising the air defence service and constantly supervises the proper functioning of the system. Should a non-military threat to Italian airspace arise, the IT-AOC assumes command of the interceptor aircraft entrusted to NATO, for subsequent counter-measures. This occurs when a civil aircraft transiting national airspace exhibits anomalous behaviour that is therefore potentially dangerous to safety, or when it requires air support due to technical problems compromising flight safety, as in today’s case, caused by a loss of radio communications. In 2017, following Montenegro’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, that country’s airspace became an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic airspace and, as such, was incorporated into NATO’s air and missile defence system. This system also includes Air Policing operations, which consist of continuous aerial surveillance aimed at ensuring the integrity and security of NATO’s airspace. Like other NATO member states (Slovenia, Albania, the Baltic States and Iceland), Montenegro does not have an air force capable of carrying out surveillance of its own airspace and has therefore requested NATO’s assistance. Italy is providing support through the deployment of two Eurofighter aircraft, which will be on operational standby at their home bases, ready to be scrambled should the need arise. A ’scramble“ is an operational procedure involving the rapid deployment of a pair of fighter aircraft to intercept and identify an unknown aircraft that violates the Alliance’s airspace or fails to identify itself properly to air traffic control, in order to ensure the security of the skies against any possible and/or potential threat. Air Policing (AP) is a capability that NATO has maintained since the mid-1950s and consists of the integration of the respective and similar national systems made available by member countries into a single NATO air and missile defence system. Air Policing operations are conducted even in peacetime and consist of the continuous surveillance and identification of all breaches of the integrity of NATO airspace, which are addressed by taking appropriate action to counter them, such as the rapid scramble of fighter-interceptor aircraft, known as a ”scramble“. Italy has participated continuously in the Interim Air Policing missions for Slovenia since 2004, for Albania since 2009 and for Montenegro since 2018, taking turns in this duty with Greece and Hungary.
