“Immediate take-off order”, in technical jargon “Alpha scramble”, for the Italian Air Force's F-35As engaged in Air Policing activities in Poland.
A couple F-35A of the TFA – 32nd Wing, redeployed to the airbase at Malbork, took off early in the afternoon to intercept two unidentified aircraft that had penetrated the airspace of the countries of the’Atlantic Alliance. The aircraft were escorted out of protected airspace by Allied countries.
The scramble was ordered by the Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany, the control body of NATO which has the task of controlling and monitoring all radar tracks of suspicious aircraft approaching or attempting to enter the airspace protected by the Atlantic Alliance without the necessary authorisations.
Air Shielding, of which the permanent Air Policing (AP) device is an integral part, is a NATO-led collective defence mission managed by Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) at Ramstein (Germany) which is conducted seamlessly 365 days a year.
The activities carried out in the Operational Theatre are conducted under the coordination and according to the directives issued by the Interforce Summit Operational Command (COVI), which is the High Command of the Defence deputised to plan, coordinate and direct military operations, national and multinational joint/combined operations/exercises and related activities.
Specifically, the “Task Force Air – 32° Wing”, through F-35A aircraft from 32nd Wing from Amendola and from 6th Wing In Ghedi, it aims to ensure the integrity and security of the Alliance's airspace, thereby contributing to the strengthening of the defence and deterrence posture on NATO's eastern flank.
