The SAMP/T battery, deployed at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, has concluded a joint-force exercise in which it operated alongside Italian Air Force F-2000 fighter jets stationed in the theater as part of the NATO Balic Air Policing mission.
The unit, composed of personnel from the Air Defense Artillery Command of Sabaudia and the 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment “Peschiera” of the Italian Army, was integrated into Task Force Air 36th Wing, deployed to Lithuania since August 1, 2024, to contribute to air defense and surveillance.
In this context, the SAMP/T Task Group collaborated with Italian Air Force assets and Allied Forces under NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) framework, participating in both real-world tracking exercises (Live Exercise) and simulated scenarios (Synthetic Exercise).
The activities followed a building block approach, divided into two main areas: basic training and Joint Engagement Zone (JEZ) operations.
- The basic training involved F-2000 aircraft and the SAMP/T system in planning, executing, and analyzing fundamental defense maneuvers and mutual engagement protocols.
- The JEZ operations included participation from French Rafale jets, Lithuania’s NASAMS air defense system, and the Radar Control Center. These missions focused on enhancing the ability to share a unified air situational picture among all participants and coordinating centralized engagements of hostile tracks across different defense systems.
The joint-force exercise, conducted in cooperation with other national and NATO assets deployed in the Baltic states, not only demonstrated Italy’s commitment to supporting Eastern Flank Allies with high-readiness capabilities but also strengthened the Atlantic Alliance’s deterrence posture and advanced the principle of “collective defense”. Additionally, the exercise improved interoperability and served as a critical opportunity for joint training.
Source: Italian Army
