Difference between revisions of "Italian National Royal Air Force (Kingdom of Italy)"

Revision as of 21:58, 23 December 2018

Italian National Royal Air Force
Regia Aeronautica Militare Nazionale Italiana
Coat of Arms of the Italian National Royal Air Force
Founded	28 March 1923 as Regia Aeronautica
Country	Kingdom of Italy
Branch	Air force
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	50,000 personnel 850 aircraft
Part of	Italian Armed Forces
Motto	Virtute Siderum Tenus (English: With valor to the stars)
March	Marcia di Ordinanza dell'Aeronautica Militare (Ordinance March of the Air Force) by Alberto Di Miniello
Anniversaries	28 March (Air Force Day)
Commanders
Chief of Staff of Military Aviation	Lieutenant General with special duties Marco Fucani
Insignia
Roundel

The Italian National Royal Air Force (Italian: Regia Aeronautica Militare Nazionale Italiana; R.A.M.N.I.) is the Air force of the Kingdom of Italy. The Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm on 28 March 1923, by King Victor Emmanuel III as the Regia Aeronautica (which equates to "Royal Air Force"). When Italy was made a Republic by Benito Mussolini, the Regia Aeronautica was given the name of National Republican Air Force. Since 2002 the Air Force was given the current name. Since its formation the service has held a prominent role in modern Italian military history. The aerobatic display team is the Frecce Tricolori.

Air Force General Staff

The Air Force General Staff in Rome supervises five major commands.

• Capo di Stato Maggiore Aeronautica Militare (Chief of the Air Force General Staff - CaSMA) in Rome
  • Air Force General Staff
  • Air Fleet Command (Comando della Squadra Aerea - CSA) in Rome
  • Air Force Logistic Command (Comando Logistico della R.A.M.N.I. - CLOG RAMNI) in Rome
  • 1st Air Region Command - North Italy (Comando 1ª Regione Aerea, 1ªRA) in Milan
  • 2nd Air Region Command - Central Italy, Sardinia and Dalmatia (Comando 2ª Regione Aerea, 2ª RA) in Ancona
  • 3rd Air Region Command - South Italy, Montenegro and Albania (Comando 3ª Regione Aerea, 3ª RA) in Bari
  • 4th Air Region Command - Sicily and Malta (Comando 4ª Regione Aerea, 4ª RA) in Trapani
  • Air Force Schools Command (Comando delle Scuole dell’AM - CSAM) in Bari
  • Air Force Command Rome (Comando Aeronautica Militare Roma - COMAER) at Centocelle Airport

Additionally the Ispettore dell’Aviazione per la Marina (Aviation Inspector for the Navy - ISPAVIAMAR) reports to the Chief of the Air Force General Staff, and equally to the Chief of the Navy General Staff, and oversees the technical and logistic aeronautical aspects, and the training of the Italian military's airborne anti-submarine forces.

Air Fleet Command

The Air Fleet Command (Comando della Squadra Aerea or CSA) controls all operative units, the intelligence, electronic warfare capabilities and the operational headquarter of the air force. The CSA ensures that unit is equipped, trained and prepared for combat duty and controls them during combat operations.

• Air Fleet Command at Centocelle Airport in Rome;
  • Comando Operazioni Aeree (Air Operations Command) in Poggio Renatico
  • Comando delle Forze da Combattimento (Combat Forces Command) in Milan
  • Comando Forze di Supporto e Speciali (Support and Special Forces Command) in Rome
  • 9ª Brigata Aerea ISTAR-EW (9th Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance - Electronic Warfare Air Brigade) at Pratica di Mare Air Base

Air Operations Command

The Comando Operazioni Aeree (Air Operations Command - COA) conducts all operations of the Aeronautica Militare. COA controls all military radar installations in Italy and its Air Operations Center commands and controls the defence of Italy's air-space.

• Comando Operazioni Aeree (Air Operations Command - COA), in Poggio Renatico
  • Reparto Servizi Coordinamento e Controllo Aeronautica Militare (Air Force Coordination and Control Service Department - RSCCAM), at Ciampino Air Base (Air traffic management)
    • Servizo Coordinamento e Controllo Aeronautica Militare Abano Terme
    • Servizo Coordinamento e Controllo Aeronautica Militare Linate
    • Servizo Coordinamento e Controllo Aeronautica Militare Brindisi
  • Reparto Preparazione alle Operazioni (Operations Preparation Unit - RPO), in Poggio Renatico
    • Reparto Mobile Comando e Controllo (Mobile Command and Control Unit - RMCC), at Bari Air Base (Air-transportable command and control post)
      • Gruppo Sistemi TLC e, Comando e Controllo (Command and Control, and Telematic Systems Group)
      • Gruppo Servizi di Supporto (Support Services Group)
  • Reparto Supporto Servizi Generali (General Service Support Unit - RSSG), in Poggio Renatico
    • Gruppo Servizi Tecnico-Operativi (Technical Services Group)
    • Gruppo Servizi Logistico-Operativi (Logistic Services Group)
    • Gruppo Protezione delle Forze (Force Protection Group)
  • Reparto Difesa Aerea Missilistica Integrata (Integrated Missile Air-defence Unit - Rep. DAMI), in Poggio Renatico
    • 11º Gruppo DAMI (11th Integrated Missile Air-defence Group), in Poggio Renatico
    • 22º Gruppo Radar Aeronautica Militare (22nd Air Force Radar Group - GrRAM), in Licola
      • Servizio Difesa Aerea (Air-defense Service)
      • Servizio Tecnico Operativo (Technical Service)
      • Servizio Logistico Operativo (Logistic Service)
      • Compagnia Protezione delle Forze (Force Protection Company)

9th ISTAR-EW Air Brigade

• 9th Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance - Electronic Warfare (ISTAR-EW) Air Brigade at Pratica di Mare Air Base
  • Comando Aeroporto di Pratica di Mare (Pratica di Mare Air Base Command)
    • Reparto Tecnico-Operativo (Technical Services Unit)
    • Reparto Logistico-Operativo (Logistic Services Unit)
    • Gruppo Protezione delle Forze (Force Protection Group)
  • Reparto Supporto Tecnico Operativo Guerra Elettronica (Electronic Warfare Technical-operational Support Unit - ReSTOGE) at Pratica di Mare Air Base
    • Gruppo Supporto Operativo (Operational Support Group)
    • Gruppo Sistemi Difesa Aerospaziale (Air-space Defense Systems Group)
    • Gruppo Supporto Tecnico (Technical Support Group)
  • Reparto Addestramento Controllo Spazio Aereo (Air-space Control Training Unit - RACSA) at Pratica di Mare Air Base
    • Gruppo Addestramento Operativo Traffico Aereo (Air-traffic Training Group)
    • Gruppo Addestramento Operativo Difesa Aerea (Air-defence Training Group)
    • Gruppo Supporto Tecnico (Technical Support Group)
  • Centro Informazioni Geotopografiche Aeronautiche (Air Force Geotopographic Information Center - CIGA) at Pratica di Mare Air Base
  • Centro Nazionale Meteorologia e Climatologia Aeronautica (Air Force National Meteorological and Climatological Center - CNMCA) at Pratica di Mare Air Base
  • Centro Operativo per la Meteorologia (Meteorological Operational Center - COMET) at Pratica di Mare Air Base

Combat Forces Command

• Comando delle Forze da Combattimento (Combat Forces Command) in Milan
  • Comando Aeroporto Aviano (Aviano Air Base Command)
    • Gruppo Servizi Tecnico-Operativi (Technical Services Group)
    • Gruppo Protezione delle Forze (Force Protection Group)
  • 313º Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico (313th Acrobatic Training Group – Frecce Tricolori) with MB-339PAN at Rivolto Air Base
  • Squadriglia Collegamenti Linate (Communication Squadron Linate) at Linate Air Base with NH-500E helicopters and S.208M planes
  • 2º Stormo Mario d'Agostini (2nd Wing) at Rivolto Air Base
  • 4º Stormo Amedeo d'Aosta (4th Wing) at Grosseto Air Base
  • 6º Stormo Alfredo Fusco (6th Wing) at Ghedi Air Base
  • 32º Stormo Armando Boetto (32nd Wing) at Amendola Air Base
  • 36º Stormo Riccardo Helmut Seidl (36th Wing) at Gioia del Colle Air Base
  • 37º Stormo Cesare Toschi (37th Wing) at Trapani Air Base
  • 51º Stormo Ferruccio Serafini (51st Wing) at Istrana Air Base

Support and Special Forces Command

• Comando delle Forze di Supporto e Speciali (Support and Special Forces Command) at Centocelle Airport
  • Comando Aeroporto Capodichino (Capodichino Air Base Command);
    • Gruppo Servizi Tecnico-Operativi (Technical Services Group)
    • Gruppo Servizi Logistico-Operativi (Logistic Services Group)
    • Compagnia Protezione delle Forze (Force Protection Company)
  • Comando Aeroporto Sigonella (Sigonella Air Base Command);
  • 1ª Brigata Aerea Operazioni Speciali Vezio Mezzetti (1st Special Operations Air Brigade) at Cervia Air Base
    • 9º Stormo Francesco Baracca (9th Combat Search and Rescue Wing) at Grazzanise Air Base
    • 16º Stormo Protezione delle Forze (16th Force Protection Wing) at Martina Franca Air Base
    • 17º Stormo Incursori (17th Raider Wing) at Furbara Air Base (Tier-1 Special Forces)
  • 46ª Brigata Aerea Silvio Angelucci (46th Air Brigade) at Pisa Air Base
    • 2º Gruppo (2nd Group)
    • 50º Gruppo (50th Group)
    • 98º Gruppo (98th Group)
    • 446º Gruppo Servizi Tecnico-Operativi (446th Technical Services Group)
    • 546º Gruppo Servizi Logistico-Operativi (546th Logistic Services Group)
    • 946º Gruppo Efficienza Aeromobili (946th Maintenance Group)
    • Centro Addestramento Equipaggi (Crew Training Center)
    • Gruppo Protezione delle Forze (Force Protection Squadron)
    • Distaccamento Aeroportuale Sarzana Luni (Airport Detachment Sarzana Luni)
  • 14º Stormo Sergio Sartoff (14th Wing) at Pratica di Mare Air Base
  • 31º Stormo Carmelo Raiti (31st Wing) at Rome Ciampino Airport

Air Force Logistic Command

The Air Force Logistic Command provides operational units with all the required necessary logistics, combat support and service support functions.

• Comando Logistico dell'Aeronautica Militare (Air Force Logistic Command) in Rome
  • 2ª Divisione – Supporto Tecnico Operativo Aeromobili, Armamento e Avionica (2nd Division – Aircraft, Armaments and Avionics Support) in Rome
  • 3ª Divisione – Supporto Tecnico Operativo Sistemi Comando e Controllo, Comunicazioni e Telematica (3rd Division – Command and Control, Communication e IT Support) in Rome
  • Servizio dei Supporti (Support Service) in Rome
  • Servizio di Commissariato e Amministrazione (Commissariat and Administration Service) in Rome
  • Servizio Infrastrutture (Infrastructure Service) in Rome
  • Servizio Sanitario Aeronautica Militare (Air Force Medical Service) in Rome
  • Centro Sperimentale di Volo (Flight Test Center) at Pratica di Mare Air Base
  • Poligono Sperimentale e di Addestramento Interforze di Salto di Quirra

Aviation Inspector for the Navy

The Ispettore dell’Aviazione per la Marina (Aviation Inspector for the Navy - ISPAVIAMAR) reports to the Chief of the Air Force General Staff and the Chief of the Navy General Staff. ISPAVIAMAR oversees the technical and logistic aeronautical aspects, and the training of the Italian military's airborne anti-submarine forces. The inspector is always a brigadier general of the air force whose office and staff reside in the navy's headquarter in Rome. The only unit assigned to ISPAVIAMAR is the 41º Stormo AS Athos Ammannato, which is under operational control of the Italian Navy.

Air Brigade

The air brigade is a large military unit, which involves the interaction and control of two or more Storms, which hierarchically depend on it, and responds to the command of a pilot air brigade general. Air Brigades include:

• a command;
• at least two Storms (or corresponding departments);
• Groups and Services responsible for operational support and direct logistics.

In the Italian Army the air brigade uses the Cavalry titles. At the moment the Air Force deploys three Air Brigades and the Italian Army deploys an Air Brigade:

• 1st Aviation Brigade for Special Operations, located at the Francesco Baracca di Centocelle airport in Rome;
• 2nd ISTAR-EW Air Brigade, at the Pratica di Mare Airport (Rome);
• 3rd Air Brigade, at the airport of Pisa-San Giusto;
• Army Aviation Brigade, at the Viterbo airport.

Wing

The Wing (Italian: Stormo) is an air unit of an air force based on an airport and, consequently, is the main subdivision of the peripheral operational organization of this armed force. As a rule, the Wing is divided into Flight Groups, and includes in itself all the supporting logistic units necessary for the operations of an air base. The Wing is controlled by a pilot colonel. The Wing is equated with the ground forces Regiment. In the Italian Air Force a Wing is normally made up of:

• a Command;
• two or more Flight Groups;
• an Aircraft Efficiency Group
• a Squadron Links / Connections and Rescue
• Groups or Services of Operational Support or Logistic Direct.

The General Staff of the Air Force may decide to give the name of a flock also to Organizations and elements of organization with combat units (such as Air Riflemen), which however do not have piloted or remote controlled air vehicles, or organisms whose main activity is aimed at operational support in operations.

Flight Group

The Flight Group (Italian: Gruppo di Volo) is an air unit of the air force. This unit operates within a Wing, defining itself as the second subdivision of the peripheral operational organization. As a rule, the Flight Group does not include all the logistic support units necessary for the operations, relying in this to the Wing structure. The Flight Group is equivalent to the battalion for ground forces, it is usually commanded by a pilot lieutenant colonel and is normally made up of:

• a Command;
• two or four Flight Squadrons.

Flight Squadron

A Flight Squadron (Italian: Squadriglia di Volo) is the fundamental organic unit, usually commanded by a captain and composed of a variable number of identical planes, depending on the specialty. A Flight Squadron is made up of three Sections, the latter being under the command of a lieutenant or a second lieutenant; a fighter section is normally composed of 4 planes, a bombardment section or a observation section consists of 3 planes.