On 10 May, a delegation from the “Logistics 4.0” Project Group of the Italian Air Force Logistics Command visited the Leonardo S.p.A. Group plant in Giugliano (Naples), which is home to the centre of excellence known as the “Training Factory”, where innovative tools and content for training and remote support are produced using virtual and augmented reality, and new technologies for predictive analysis to support maintenance are experimented with.
The visit falls within the scope of the activities related to the objectives of the Logistics 4.0 Project Group, aimed, inter alia, at initiating a path of cognitive and experiential growth for the Italian Air Force regarding the application of advanced technologies (augmented and virtual reality, additive manufacturing, internet of things, big data analytics, cloud storage and computing, simulation, and robotics) to the aeronautical sector's supply chain. The aim is to put the Italian Air Force Logistics Command in the best possible position to make informed choices and decisions in adopting and applying technologies and materials emerging from the Industry 4.0 paradigm to aeronautical logistics, the impact of which will be pervasive in the operational, maintenance, and training activities of the Italian Air Force in the near future.
The visit to the Giugliano site is also preparatory to the “Airathon” event at the Pratica di Mare Flight Test Centre on 5–6 June, a creative marathon conducted using the “hackathon” methodology on the theme of the combined use of augmented reality and blockchain in maintenance and training operations. Implemented thanks to the collaboration of the Italian Air Force and Ernst & Young Financial Business Advisors, this “open innovation” initiative has been joined by industrial sector partners, technological partners and universities.
