Aeronautica Militare Italiana "100 Years 2023" Gioia del Colle Air Base

June 12th 2023 saw and an invited group of International media attend a spectacular display of military hardware from the Aeronautica Militare 36 Stormo and 15 Stormo on Gioia del Colle Air base Italy as part of the 100 years of Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI) celebrations week.

A full and packed schedule awaited our group, including a full presentation and overview of 15 Stormo and 36 Stormo and their roles within the AMI, NATO and their duties patrolling the Eastern sector of European airspace, maintenece hangers tour, ramp/flightline access to the EF-2000s and CSAR AW-139s, flight/static displays from both types and to end the tour late evening was an historical overview of the based preserved aircraft.

Gioia del Colle Air base in Southern Italy is home to two squadrons of EF-2000s "Eurofighters" 10 Gruppo and 12 Gruppo and form 36 Stormo, also housed in the far corner of the base is the AW-139 Helicopters of 84 Centro CSAR (Combat Search And Rescue) and are part of 15 Stormo which has detachments throughout central Italy, Sardinia and Sicily. The base also has a hanger in which deep maintence (500-1000 flight hours-level 2 inspections) is provided for all sqaudrons that operate the EF-2000 throughout Italy. The media group were allowed to visit and photograph some of these aircraft in deep maintence and speak with the aircraft engineers that work on the aircraft.

EF-2000

36 Stormo operates in excess of 20 aircraft (excact numbers were not provided for security reasons) and provides Combat Air Patrol "CAP" along Italy's Eastern coastline and waters, they also detach to various bases around the world on excercise and provide aircraft to support NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) missions with it's member nations around the globe. The EF-2000 (F-2000A/C) and EF-2000T (TF-2000A) twinstick multi role air superiority fighter has a max speed of 1.5 Mach with afterburner and 1.1 Mach in supercruise mode. Although a 4th generation fighter, it is considered a worthy adversary for some of it's 5th generation counterparts. The EF-2000 carries a specially developed variant of the Mauser BK-27 27 mm cannon that was developed originally for the Panavia Tornado. This is a single-barrel, electrically fired, gas-operated revolver cannon with a new linkless feed system is located in the starboard wing root, and is capable of firing up to 1700 rounds per minute. In addition to it's cannon it can carry a mixture of air to air weaponry to fulfill its role as an air superiority fighter. This includes the, IRIS-T, AIM-9 Sidewinder heat seeking missiles, AIM-120 AMRAAM and the MBDA Meteor beyond visual range radar guided missiles. For air to surface it can carry the Storm Shadow missile. Power plant for the Eurofighter is two Eurojet EJ200 turbofan engines.

AW-139

15 Stormo operates many Augusta Westand AW-139M helicopters around Italy but only 6 are based with 84 Centro CSAR at Gioia del Colle. The twin-engine AW139M is used for battlefield support, tactical troop transport, logistics support, threat suppression, fire support, Command and Control, medical evacuation, Search and Rescue (SAR), (CSAR) and special forces operations. It has a crew of 2 and can carry up to 15 passengers and it has an impressive endurance of 5 hours 37 minutes with an auxillary fuel tank. The powerplant is 2 x Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67C Turboshafts with FADEC.

Both fighter and Helicopter were displayed for the attending media at the this event, and what a show both types put on, following several flypasts, both types repositioned later on the ground for a evening photoshoot against the base 36 Stormo sign, then a meet and greet with the pilots of both types, before finishing are tour to the airpark we were allowed to visit some of the EF-2000s in their boxes along the main ramp (more photo shoots of their wonderful fighters). Just before the light began to fade we had our final 20 minutes in the wonderful airpark, what a mixture of types and all wonderfully painted and in great condition.

At approximately 2000pm the tour ended and the 20+ strong group boarded the coach, all that can be said is what an impressive well organised actioned packed day held by 36 Stormo at Gioio del Colle, if this mini-event was anything to go by the NATO Tiger Meet in October 2023 to be held here is going to be one hell of an event and something not to be missed.

AviationReporting must thank First Lt Fulvio Mallardi PAO on base for organising this event along with his 36 Stormo pilot Captain "Ivan" who co-ordinated all air and ground displays throughout the afternoon and evening, AMI HQ Rome for approving the event, UK Defence Attache Rome, Paolo Di Baggio and my AviationReporting photographers, co-ordinators and correspondents for providing the photo's and information for this event.

Author Mark Forest & Peter Nelson

Photography Stewart Toone, Mark Zuidmulder, Steven Fenton, Duncan Campbell, David ilott

Research/Planning Frank Cooper & David Yarnell