The document highlights the Italian Air Force’s activities, emphasizing its ongoing commitment to operational readiness, technological innovation, and human resource development. The key themes addressed are:
Key Operational Achievements:
- Space Mission AX3-Voluntas: Colonel Walter Villadei spent three weeks in orbit, performing experiments that strengthen Italy’s operational, medical, and technological experience in space.
- Red Flag Alaska Exercise: Italian personnel led complex air operations, demonstrating logistic and operational capabilities in challenging environments.
- Indo-Pacific Air Campaign 2024: Included participation in Pitch Black 2024 (Australia), joint exercises with Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force, and joint naval-air training aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour emphasizing interoperability and cross-domain operations with assets such as F-35A, Eurofighter, KC-767, and E-550 CAEW aircraft.
- North America Tour (NAT24): The “Frecce Tricolori” aerobatic team returned to Canada and the USA after more than 30 years, performing in several airshows and flyovers, highlighting Italian excellence and capabilities.
Human Resources Development:
The Air Force prioritizes personnel development through continuous training, adaptive skill development, and modern educational methodologies, addressing recruitment challenges and decreasing personnel numbers by increasing training efficiency and adopting advanced digital learning strategies.
- Significant increase in recruitment for officers (nearly 30%), volunteers (over 30%), and warrant officers (more than 70%) compared to 2023.
Training & Education:
- Introduction of innovative training methods using digital learning platforms (e-learning and integrated digital training) to optimize training effectiveness, reduce training time, and maintain high professional standards – Project METIS
- A new helicopter school is being established in Viterbo, scheduled to begin operations in January 2026, transferring responsibilities from the 72nd Wing in Frosinone. Acquisition of 30 new AW.169 helicopters, designed specifically for dual-use missions (military and civilian), integrated with an advanced Ground-Based Training System (GBTS) featuring modern simulators.
International Flight Training School (IFTS)
- Significant growth in international cooperation, with the training of pilots from Saudi Arabia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Qatar, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and Hungary.
- The T-346 Advanced Jet Trainer combined with the Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training system offered state-of-the-art preparation for pilots transitioning to 4th and 5th generation fighters.
Operational Activities:
- Increased real-interception activities (“Alpha Scramble”) by 75% compared to 2023.
- Extensive participation in NATO’s Air Policing missions in Poland and Lithuania, conducting numerous interception missions with jets accumulating approximately 2,500 flight hours.
- Operation “Prima Parthica” in Kuwait/Iraq: Deployment of Predator drones, Eurofighter jets, and air-refueling aircraft supporting coalition operations against Daesh.
Cybersecurity Initiatives:
- Completion of the Cyber Eagle 2024 exercise, involving 150 military and civilian cyber specialists who tested the resilience of critical infrastructure and radar systems, notably the new Deployable Air Defence Radar (DADR).
Personnel Welfare and Support:
- Comprehensive measures to ensure personnel well-being, including enhanced healthcare insurance, legal protection policies, prevention of suicide initiatives, childcare support (“summer camps”), housing improvements, and gender equality initiatives.
Strategic Vision:
- Expansion of the Air Force’s domain into space and cybersecurity, reinforcing its multidimensional capabilities to counter traditional and hybrid threats effectively.
- Commitment to innovation, international cooperation, and operational readiness to uphold national security and international peace efforts.
