The 2-week “Storm Flag 2023” train gathered F-2000s from all of the Italian Air Pressure models flying the Eurofighter.
From Aug. 28 to Sept. 8, 2023, Grosseto Air Base, house of the 4° Stormo (Wing), hosted train “Storm Flag 2023” an important train of the yr for the Italian Air Force Eurofighter fleet.
F-2000As (as the only seater Typhoons are designated in Italy in accordance with the MOD’s Mission Design Sequence – the two-seaters are designated TF-2000A) belonging to the 4°, 36° (primarily based at Gioia del Colle), 37° (Trapani) and 51° Stormo (Istrana) operated from Grosseto to growing the standardization of all models flying with the Eurofighter whereas creating new techniques associated to the usage of the weapons.
All through the train, the “Weapons Instructors” fashioned final yr through the WIC (Weapons Teacher Course), shared what they discovered in “Typhoon Flag 2022” with the youthful pilots, in an effort to practice them find out how to undertake the very best techniques and strategies to make use of the plane’s weapons. Noteworthy, the particular objective of this yr’s version of the drills was to develop – in a simulated means – superior techniques for the usage of the MBDA Meteor missile.
Developed by a gaggle of European companions led by MBDA to satisfy the wants of the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden, the Meteor is taken into account one of the vital deadly BVR missiles obtainable at present. The Italian Air Pressure has chosen the long-range missile for the Eurofighter fleet however it hasn’t been very lively to date in fielding it, in comparison with different companion nations which have already been utilizing it for a number of years.
Anyway, contemplating that the usage of the Meteor was a declared theme of the train, it’s protected to imagine the ultimate integrations have been concluded (or are about to), and the missile will quickly seem on the Italian Typhoons.
In accordance with the Italian Air Pressure, standardization is essential to participate in NATO missions as a part of as a part of a Task Force with mixed aircrews, as often occurring in Kuwait, the Baltic area or Japanese Europe.
On Sept. 5, 2023, Grosseto Air Base hosted the Media Day of “Storm Flag 2023” and the pictures you will discover on this article have been taken through the occasion by The Aviationist‘s contributors Giovanni Maduli and Alessandro Borsetti.
David Cenciotti is a journalist primarily based in Rome, Italy. He’s the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of many world’s most well-known and browse navy aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for main worldwide magazines, together with Air Forces Month-to-month, Fight Plane, and plenty of others, overlaying aviation, protection, warfare, trade, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown a number of fight planes with completely different air forces. He’s a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Pressure, a personal pilot and a graduate in Laptop Engineering. He has written 5 books and contributed to many extra ones.
