The ceremony to bid farewell to the historic Breguet P-1150 Atlantic aircraft, which has been replaced by the new P-72A aircraft officially presented during the ceremony, took place today, Thursday 21 September, at the Sigonella base, home of the 41st Anti-Submarine Stormo. The event was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, Squadron Admiral Valter Girardelli, and the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Squadron General Enzo Vecciarelli, together with representatives of Leonardo and regional civil authorities from the provinces of Catania and Syracuse, within whose community the Sigonella airport has always been deeply integrated. Admiral Girardelli pointed out that “there is a continued need to be able to rely on assets capable of conducting defence activities, including against the underwater threat, and, at the same time, not to lose the precious know-how that is so unique and difficult to rebuild—such as that painstakingly acquired and jealously guarded by anti-submarine aviation personnel thanks to specific and constant training, as well as the experience gained in thousands of hours of flight in the skies, on maritime patrol, in operations and in operational and training activities.” General Vecciarelli emphasised in his speech how “The Italian Air Force will give full support to the Italian Navy, with a renewed integration of our capabilities, and I hope that this experience at the 41st Wing can foster an ever-broader collaboration, seeing the fusion of the capabilities of both, always with the sole objective of defending our social values”. Vecciarelli also reiterated the importance of “taking inspiration from virtuous examples, with a new spirit of collaboration that brings unity among our Armed Forces, as well as with national institutions, in a synergistic, inter-service and inter-agency system that ensures the security of our country. The 41st Antisubmarine Wing at Sigonella represents a fully fledged joint operational reality within the context of Italian Defence …”. As part of the European Union's Naval Military Operation in the Central-Southern Mediterranean (EunavforMed), Sigonella Airport represents one of those Italian Air Force bases ready to provide support and host foreign assets. It currently hosts the Spanish asset since 13/09/2015 and the Luxembourg one since 18/07/2015. EunavforMed aims to help dismantle human trafficking and smuggling networks by adopting systematic measures to identify and intercept vessels and vehicles used by traffickers. Italy’s participation was formalised by Law No. 117 of 4 August 2015, following approval by the European Foreign Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on 22 June 2015. The Atlantic aircraft, which is being withdrawn from active service with the Air Force after 45 years of service and over 250,000 flight hours, has taken part in all recent national maritime surveillance operations in the Mediterranean Sea, such as “Mare Nostrum” and “Mare Sicuro”, thanks to the daily efforts of mixed flight crews comprising personnel from the Navy and the Air Force. The P-72A, manufactured by Leonardo, is an all-weather maritime patrol aircraft, developed from the ATR72-600 for the civil market and subsequently modified with specific equipment and sensors to fulfil its military tasks; it represents an interim solution designed to bridge the capability gap until such time as the country can acquire a Long-Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft that also possesses ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare). The new configuration has already been put to the test, playing its part during the G7 summit in Taormina in May. Like its predecessor, it is assigned to the Air Force and operated by the Navy: mixed crews from both armed forces on board work in full inter-service coordination, consolidated over almost fifty years of operational activity over the Atlantic. The new aircraft’s enhanced detection capabilities, extended range and ability to fly at very low altitudes make it essential for patrolling and surveillance of operational theatres and for the security of the national territory, as well as for search and rescue missions to safeguard human life at sea. Finally, the P-72A’s network-centric capability helps to establish a persistent surveillance capability in support of the country’s security and defence requirements.
