A meeting that pursues the broadest cooperation and interoperability between the civilian and military spheres, for the achievement of the EU's strategic autonomy.
The seminar organised by the was held on Tuesday 5 December at the Auditorium of Palazzo Aeronautica in Rome. “Giulio Douhet” Centre for Military Aerospace Studies (CESMA) from the title “European airspace: a pre-eminent domain to be preserved and enhanced in the public interest”.
The meeting, which was attended not only by professionals working in the main national and international organisations of the sector and in the national aerospace industry, but also by students and aviation culture enthusiasts, offered a valuable opportunity for in-depth analysis and discussion on the main challenges affecting the EU airspace.
During the first part of the conference, Air Division General Claudio Gabellini, Commander of the Air Aerospace Operations Command of Poggio Renatico, Brigadier General Luca Baione, Head of’General Office for Military Aviation and Meteorology and Dr Giorgio Cioni, Director for Armaments and Aerospace Capabilities at the NATO Defence Investment Division.
It General Baione, at the opening of the Seminar, highlighted the absolute necessity for the EU to maintain a prominent role in its own airspace. To do this, it is essential that the institutions responsible for Defence and security ensure the preservation of airspace, an essential prerequisite for its subsequent development, so that the European community may benefit from it in terms of commercial development, economic and social growth, and scientific and industrial progress. This approach is clearly set out in the EU's Strategic Compass, approved by the Heads of State or Government in March 2022, but it has not yet found consistent application in subsequent developments.
In this context, the adoption of measures aimed at pursuing the broadest cooperation and interoperability between the civilian and military spheres is the key enabler for the realisation of the’EU strategic autonomy, also in light of the international situation which makes it obvious to everyone that the civil-military duality has been overcome, where threats increasingly have hybrid characteristics that can hardly be traced back solely to one world or the other. It is therefore essential to adopt an approach that is as cooperative and synergistic as possible between the institutions tasked with ensuring the protection and enhancement of a domain considered absolutely vital to the interests of the entire community.
Following this, the Gen. Gabellini, taking the floor, he sought to provide a brief overview of the specific characteristics of the air defence, highlighting that the protection of the same is a vital factor for national security, which is a priority for all. Within this framework, it is essential to fully understand the evolution of threats and to pursue the adaptation of the relevant regulatory framework, in order to combat as promptly and effectively as possible any form of “inattentiveness” that could jeopardise national and EU security.
It Dr Cioni finally, during his speech, he outlined the initiatives undertaken by the NATO to adapt to the new security context and modern technologies.
The activity then continued with the Round table which featured speeches by qualified representatives of key national, EU and industrial organisations operating in the aerospace sector.
Taking the floor this time, emphasising how cooperation between the civil and military worlds is a key element in guaranteeing the safety and growth of air traffic, also in light of the constant increase in civil air traffic and growing security and defence requirements, and in consideration of the increased data exchange capacity through the digitalisation of data in orbit, also thanks to the use of quantum physics for communications, and of the training requirements of new-generation assets so that the full usability of airspace for commercial activities is guaranteed at the same time, was the Dr Parini of the’European Defence Agency (EDA), the Dr Acampora from EUROCONTROL, the Dr Falessi of ENAC, the Dr Fantini of ENAV, the’Ing. Sturiale from Thales Alenia Space and, with a reference to the importance and meaning of the hundred years of history of the Italian Air Force in the flight assistance sector, the Col. Moroni of the General Office of Military Aviation and Meteorology of the Air Force Staff.
The seminar concluded with a speech by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Marshal Luca Goretti who, addressing those present and, in particular, the young people, underlined the pre-eminent role of the Italian Air Force in preparing the security and defence system that must guarantee the protection and integrity of our territories and the prosperity of our populations.“In the near future – said Gen. Goretti – the Italian Air Force will be called upon to produce an even greater effort to guarantee the protection of an airspace that will be increasingly congested and contested, also due to the growing use of remotely piloted aircraft, new operations in higher airspace and activities in outer space”.
