The Joint Stars 2023, the complex multi-domain exercise that saw the Italian Armed Forces train in the defense of airspace, land and sea, in cyber and space security, in defense against chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination and in the fight against emerging threats, including underwater or aerial drones, has ended.
During the Joint Stars, the departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri, also exercised in 28 “inter-agency” events, in order to increase integration and interoperability between the components of the Armed Forces and the other articulations of the State involved in the management of public order, in the activities to combat terrorism and illicit trafficking, in the rescue of refugees and in the management of emergency situations.
In total, the training activities, planned and directed by the Joint Top Operational Command, saw over 5,300 men and women and 900 platforms from the Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard, and from the Armed Corps and not of the State, such as the Guardia di Finanza, Civil Protection, the Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross, the Fire Brigade.
Foreign assets are also involved – including a Norwegian mechanized battalion, NATO Standing Naval Forces assets and Slovenian staff officers. For the first time, university students from important national universities (LUISS “Guido Carli”, LUMSA, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa and the University of Genoa) took part in the activities.
The last training activity took place at the Joint Experimental Polygon of Salto di Quirra (PISQ), where Aster missiles and Stinger missiles were launched.
More than 150 soldiers from all departments of the Anti-Aircraft Artillery contributed to the missile launches, who trained and prepared to ensure the proper conduct of the firing exercise and the achievement of full operational capability.
Also for this event, particular attention has been paid to the environmental theme: the materials released on the territory or in the seabed affected by the training activities of the Joint Stars, which to be used must be preliminarily evaluated through the respective Integrated Safety Data Sheets and declared non-contaminating, will still be removed.
Campaigns to identify and remove residues have already been planned during the summer period of suspension of activities and the recovered materials that will not be useful for re-use will be regularly disposed of according to current regulations.
The role of the Italian Air Force in the exercise was decisive, guaranteeing an important contribution at an operational and technical level and providing decisive logistical support.
During the exercise, various assets of the Italian Air Force were engaged which, in addition to being redeployed at the Experimental and Aerial Shooting Standardization Department (R.S.S.T.A) of Decimomannu, operated mainly from their bases or redeployed near the training area, such as the Tornado of the 6th Wing of Ghedi, the T-346, the P-72 of the 41° Stormo di Sigonella, the HH-139 and HH-101A helicopters of the 9° Stormo.
In particular, from the 46th Air Brigade of Pisa the C-130J and C-27J operated for personnel and material transport, air supply, special forces airdrop activities and medical transport in bio-containment, from the 14th Wing of Pratica di Mare the G-550 CAEW for Command and Control and aerial surveillance capabilities and the KC-767, from the 32nd Wing of Amendola the remotely piloted aircraft MQ-9 “Predator”, while from the 37th Wing of Trapani the F-2000 Eurofighter and the F3-5 operated, coming from the 4th Flocks of Grosseto, 32nd, 36th of Gioia del Colle and 51st of Istrana.
Employed at the PISQ the FARP (Forward Arming and Refuelling Point) of the 3rd Wing of Villafranca, a Defense capability that allows a high level of effectiveness in the conduct of Special Operations, Personnel Recovery, Search and Rescue (SAR) and in rescue of the civilian population, ensuring the availability of fuel and equipment even in isolated areas and in logistically complex contexts, expanding the range of rotary-wing aircraft.
The Mobile Command and Control Department has also been redeployed on Decimomannu, with personnel from the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Department and the Airspace Control Training Department, for the management of the D-ASACS system, Deployable Air Surveillance and Control System.
Relevant support provided by the Logistic Command – 3 ^ Division that participated consistently in the planning and conduct of the exercise with the redeployment of the Matra TPS-77 Radar system at Punta Is Ebbas (Perdasdefogu) and sheltered mobile assets on Decimomannu and Capo Teulada, made by personnel of the 4 ^ BTS of Borgo Piave for the integration of air tracks and TBT Radio resources (Ground / Edge / Earth) at the D-ASACS.
In addition, mixed teams of personnel of 4 ^ BTS, 1st RTC, 2nd RTC, ReSIA and ReGISCC have actively contributed to the establishment of the FMN (Federated Mission Network) stationed in Poggio Renatico to ensure the necessary CIS support to all the components of the Air Force redeployed on Decimomannu and to the SAMP-T battery of the Italian Army redeployed on Capo San Lorenzo.
The ground forces of the Italian Air Force were also used, coming from the 16th Wing of Martina Franca and the 17th Wing of Furbara, with tasks of Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems, Joint Terminal Attack Control and Tactical Support to Special Operations as Extraction Forces for Personnel Recovery missions.
All JOST23 air activities were planned and managed through the Air Component Command activated on Poggio Renatico, headquarters of the Aerospace Operations Command. Competence, flexibility, capacity, speed of intervention and effectiveness are intrinsic characteristics of Aerospace Power to ensure air dominance, an essential element in modern military operations, in synergy with the other Component Commands. Through Command and Control and the use of sensors and actuators operating on the ground and in aerospace, operating at a tactical, operational and strategic level, air and information supremacy is achieved and maintained, essential for the success of joint operations.
The R.S.S.T.A. Decimomannu Air distinguished itself during the JOST23 exercise, demonstrating its crucial importance and providing a perfect strategic and tactical environment for joint operations. The Cagliari air base, whose extensive infrastructure and extensive training areas allowed it to conduct complex and realistic operations, allowed the participating forces to hone their operational capabilities. The base provided indispensable support services, including housing, replenishment and maintenance, contributing to the overall success of the exercise. Despite the intense military activity, the dynamics of the base were not negatively affected and both flight activities and activities related to the International Flight Training School (IFTS) were in fact ensured, demonstrating, once again, the reliability and the fundamental role of the base in supporting important international missions.
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