ITS Cavour.

This is coolbert:

Power projection and global reach the Italian navy? The Italians?

"Italian Carrier Strike Group Arrives In Singapore As Part Of Indo-Pacific Operational Campaign"

From https://theaviationist.com | June 24, 2024 | STEFANO D'URSO.

"The ITS Cavour left its port earlier this month for a five-month cruise that will allow the aircraft carrier to work with multiple regional partners in the Indo-Pacific region."

"The Italian Navy quietly deployed, without much fanfare, its Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to the Indo-Pacific region earlier this month. Today, the service announced the arrival in Singapore for a logistic stop of the 31st Naval Group, as the core of the CSG made of the ITS Cavour and the ITS Alpino FREMM frigate has been called."

ITS Cavour carrying a dozen or so F-35B Lightning warplanes now certified for combat operations.

Think too this not the first time Italian warships have ventured into the waters east of Singapore.

British/Canadian/Italian/German/Indian naval vessels the last few years surprisingly found far from home waters. Patrols and missions now to include the Indo-Pacific region.

See previous blog entries as applicable to topic:

https://theaviationist.com/2024/06/24/cavour-indo-pacific-campaign/

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/11/ffh-331.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/08/alliance.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/07/permanent.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/05/elizabeth-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/06/shangri-la.html

coolbert.

Caio Duilio.

This is coolbert:

"Congratulations to the crew of the destroyer #CaioDuilio who shot down two drones in the Red Sea as part of the EU Aspides mission. @ItalianNavy guarantees free navigation and protects our merchant ships. Proud of our sailors!"

Once more the Italian navy combat action the Red Sea.

"Italian Navy Destroyer Caio Duilio Shoots Down Two More Drones In Red Sea"

From https://theaviationist.com | DAVID CENCIOTTI | March 12, 2024.  

"The Anti-Air Warfare Destroyer [ Caio Duilio\ of the Marina Militare engaged and shot down two more aerial drones in the Red Sea."

Caio Duilio and not Nave Duilio!

"According to EUNAVFOR, on Mar. 12, 2024 at between 02.00AM and 05.45AM Djibouti time, the Italian destroyed repelled the attack from UAVs coming from Houthis-controlled territories in Yemen and posing a direct and imminent threat to the freedom of navigation."

[....]

"Although it’s not been confirmed yet, it is quite likely that 76mm cannons were again used to shoot down the drones: these Super-Rapid guns are extremely effective and much cheaper than low and medum-range Aster missiles, therefore the weapon of choice against relatively low-cost targets."

Indeed. Those 76 mm naval guns perhaps the best weapon to engage and destroy those one-way quadracopter kamikaze drone.

Italian navy standing tall the Red Sea mission. 

coolbert.

Nave Duilio

This is coolbert:

Italian warship the Red Sea Nave Duilio engages the enemy.

Rapid fire 76 mm gun organic successful!

"Italian Anti-Air Warfare Destroyer Shoots Down Houthi Drone In Red Sea"

From https://theaviationist.com | DAVID CENCIOTTI | March 2, 2024.

Nave Duilio, a destroyer of the Marina Militare, shot down a drone for self-defense.

"On Mar. 2, 2024, Nave Duilio, an Anti-Air Warfare destroyer of the Italian Navy . . . shot down a drone in the Red Sea. According to the Italian Ministry of Defense, the drone, similar to those already used in previous attacks by the Houthi rebels, was about 6 kilometers [about 3 1/2 miles] from the Italian warship, flying towards it."

"It was shot down using one of the ship’s three OTO 76mm cannons."

"Nave Duilio has been operating in the Red Sea to guarantee the freedom of navigation and the security of trade routes, to safeguard international law and national interests."

Nave Duilio part of the European naval contingent, defense of commercial shipping, the Red Sea. A military operation independent of the American sponsored and commanded Prosperity Guardian.

Incoming enemy drone directed at the Italian naval vessel brought down by naval gun fire. That OTO Melara 76 mm gun rapid fire indeed the preferred means of combating threats the Red Sea.

Far CHEAPER than using missiles too expensive and available only in LIMITED numbers.

Air-burst and DART guided rounds both effective in the anti-air role of Nave Duilio.

Drone attack again thwarted at a range of 6 kilometers [about 3 1/2 miles]. The American tactic Red Sea mission to encounter and give battle to airborne threat at long-range with missiles, far beyond the range of naval gunfire.

Bravi Italiani. Buon lavoro.

coolbert.

MORTAR IT.

This is coolbert: 

"before the Second World War Italy's technology was at an incredibly high level . . . achievements, especially in the sphere of aviation, submarines and high-speed launches, were really amazing . . . the Italians were the unrecognized geniuses of military and naval technology." - Suvorov.

The Italians great inventors and geniuses of military technology except for mortars?

"Ukrainian Units Disappointed: New Italian Weapons Are Worse than 80 Year Old World War II Equipment"

From https://militarywatchmagazine.com  | Military Watch Magazine Editorial Staff  | December-7th-2022.

Range only 2 to 2 1/2 miles?

"In the latest of several scandals involving European built weapons supplied to the Ukrainian Military for its ongoing war against Russia, Italian armaments have been harshly criticized for their quality with the Mod63 120mm mortar in particular singled out. 'They are much worse than their Soviet equivalents from WWII,' Ukrainian reports indicated, with issues with ammunition deliveries from Italy further limiting the assets’ usefulness. 'Today we are barely able to fire two rounds per minute that do not fly beyond 3-4 km, less than half of what we expected. We are trying to replace them with much more advanced Swedish mortars,'”

Red Army mortars of the 120 mm caliber version during World War II cast-iron smooth-bore tubes firing a cast-iron mortar bomb. Very cheap and easy to manufacture. Red Army 120 mm mortars produced during WW2 in just the most enormous and prodigious numbers.

Favored by the Red Army commanders as an outstanding weapon, proliferating the battlefield in great numbers, firing an enormous amount of mortar bomb ammunition at the enemy.

In the opinion of the Red Army military commander cast-iron mortar bombs very favorable with regard to splintering in a manner that can cause a lot of damage to human tissue.

Sometimes the old ways are the best ways!

coolbert.

Trilateral.

This is coolbert:

“equivalent to the internet traffic of a large city every second”. 

That Italian designed and developed Multi-Function Radar Frequency System (MRFS) able to input data and process at a phenomenal rate!

MORE GCAP! See my previous blog entry GCAP.

"Italy, UK And Japan Sign GCAP Collaboration Agreement"

From https://theaviationist.com | September 12, 2023 | ARTICLE BY STEFANO D'URSO.

"The agreement defines the next steps of the work needed to deliver the concept phase requirements of the next generation [6th] combat aircraft."

Sixth generation warplane characterized by stealth plus + the incorporation of directed energy weaponry [DEW].

"Leonardo, BAE Systems and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced today a new trilateral Collaboration Agreement to deliver the concept phase requirements of a next generation combat aircraft for the GCAP (Global Combat Air Program)."

[....]

"As already disclosed by Leonardo, the radar being developed for GCAP will push the boundaries of radar technology. In fact, the new Multi-Function Radar Frequency System (MRFS), the radar initially developed to equip the Tempest sixth generation aircraft, will collect and process 10,000 times more data than existing systems . . . The key words that describe the work of the developers are miniaturization and digitalization."

Surely the combined talents of the British, Japanese and Italians cannot fail!

"before the Second World War Italy's technology was at an incredibly high level . . . achievements, especially in the sphere of aviation, submarines and high-speed launches, were really amazing . . . the Italians were the unrecognized geniuses of military and naval technology." - Suvorov.

coolbert.

Conte.

This is coolbert:

AND WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE STATED GOALS?

Strong words from the former Italian Prime Minister.

"‘Defeat for All’ — NATO’s Strategy in Ukraine Has Failed, Says Former Italian PM"

"The West’s strategy in Ukraine and attempts to crush the Russian economy have failed, representing a 'defeat for all', former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said"

From https://www.breitbart.com | KURT ZINDULKA | 29 Aug 2023.

"Commenting on the state of the American-led NATO alliance’s proxy war against Moscow, the former Italian leader said that the strategy of pouring 'continuous military supplies' into Ukraine and 'the logic of escalation' has failed to deliver on the stated goals of the globalist leaders in Europe and Washington."

Comments:

* As I have mentioned in many previous blog entries, the NATO nations including the USA have sent massive amounts [and are continuing to send] of military munitions to the Ukrainian. Even to the extent of eliminating stockpiles of war-making bang stuff that the NATO nations would need for their own defense.

* This almost cavalier talk of using tactical nuclear weapons too is most worrying. Even a minor use [is their a minor use?] of atomic weapons might lead very quickly to inevitable escalation for all that will mean.

* Economic sanctions as applied to the Russian seem to have not had the desired outcome. Rein in the Russian, compel Vlad to stop! Sanctions alone from the energy standpoint, Russia and the rest of Europe both, have caused a big bite but not so terrible and disastrous as might have been anticipated.

coolbert.

Template.

This is coolbert:

Australia, United Kingdom, United States [AUKUS] all in unison the Far East. British, Japan, Italy [GCAP] the Far East also!

Think Tempest 6th generation fighter plane.

1. "AUKUS and GCAP set new Indo-Pacific security template"

From https://asia.nikkei.com | story by Alessio Patalano | March 28, 2023.

"Technology cooperation more than a response to China's military modernization"

[....]

"Later the same week, British, Japanese and Italian defense ministers met in Tokyo to set plans for jointly developing a sixth-generation fighter jet in what is now known as the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP)."

The sixth generation air superiority/supremacy fighter warplane. Stealth/AI/directed energy. GCAP a collective effort to design such a warplane. The combat aviators delight and must be so for decades to come.

2. "UK industry to play key role in new Global Combat Air Program, delivering next phase of combat air fighter jet development"

From https://www.baesystems.com | 9 Dec 2022.

"The UK’s sovereign industry partners, under Team Tempest, will support the significant endeavor announced today by the Governments of the UK, Japan and Italy, which will see the three nations build a truly international program, with a shared ambition to develop a next generation [6th] fighter aircraft under a new Global Combat Air Program (GCAP)."

ONLY very vaguely was I aware of GCAP. Beyond a conception phase now, development going to take a long time and even longer before such a warplane takes to the air. Hey, no one ever said any of this was going to be easy!

coolbert.

Visitors.

This is coolbert:

Italians the Far East? Italians? Patria e Onore!

Aviation assets the Italian air force the Far East we are well aware of. Now Italian naval assets too!

"East: Italy's Defense Diplomacy"

(Source: Defense-Aerospace.com; posted April 25, 2023) article by Timothy Ash.

"PARIS --- Like many European countries, Italy looks to the East: the future deployment of the Italian Navy aircraft carrier Cavour, and its main stopovers, draw the map of the Italy’s defense diplomacy of in the Indo-Pacific region."

"Soft and hard power: the art of using selective warships"

Hard & soft Italian style on display undeniably so and for all to behold.

"The ITS Morosini, the second ship in the new PPA class of offshore patrol vessels in name, but clearly a frigate in fact, will cruise eastwards for five months (from April 6 to September 13) . . . This is pure hard power."

"In addition, the Italian Navy’s tall ship, the Vespucci training sailing ship, will travel during 22 months, visit 28 countries: this is the soft power."

"China is clearly being targeted here, as Italy is keen on having more than a jump seat in the region.

Indeed. China is the target here. Show the flag, bilateral military training to demonstrate resolve and commitment. Hard & soft in unison.

coolbert.

SDV I.

 This is coolbert:

"before the Second World War Italy's technology was at an incredibly high level . . . achievements, especially in the sphere of aviation, submarines and high-speed launches, were really amazing . . . the Italians were the unrecognized geniuses of military and naval technology." - Suvorov.

The tradition continues. SDV = Swimmer delivery vehicle.

"Previously Unreported Italian Special Forces AE-90 Submarine Seen For First Time"

A retired special operations submarine never seen before!

From http://www.hisutton.com | H I Sutton | 02 June 2023.

"You know a country’s special forces capabilities are good when they lift the veil of secrecy on one of their retired submersibles and it looks more modern than most navies’ future types. Italy’s COMSUBIN (GOI, aka Incusori) combat swimmers paraded a previously unreported mini-submarine at the Republic day parade in Rome on June 2nd."

Bow to the left in the image, stern to the right. So the uninitiated reader is not confused. This model dry sub commando delivery vehicle now retired.

"It does not necessarily follow that this vehicle is designed for the same types of special forces missions as swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs) in other countries. Italian special forces, while influenced by certain foreign units, tread their own path in this regard. The submarine may be intended for a specialist mission we can only guess at."

This Italian SDV a dry sub in contrast to a web sub. Naval commando carried to the target of a mission in a manner not exposed to the "ambient environment". A SDV wet sub commando in contrast suited and using SCUBA breathing apparatus such is the underwater exposure.

coolbert.

ItAF.

This is coolbert:

OPLAN Japan the Italian Air Force. Italians? Japan?

The Italian air force ItAF projects power worldwide.

My intuition tells me this is more about China than anything else.

"Four Italian F-35 Jets Have Arrived In Japan Completing A +10,000 Km [+6,000 miles] Trip From Italy"

From https://theaviationist.com | the article by DAVID CENCIOTTI | August 4, 2023.

"After being delayed by a typhoon, the Italian Air Force F-35 aircraft have finally arrived in Japan."

"At 21.20 LT [local time] on Aug. 4, 2023, four F-35As with the 32° Stormo (Wing) from Amendola Air Base and 6° Stormo from Ghedi Air Base have landed at Komatsu Air Base, Japan."

Italian F-35 Lightning jets accompanied by tanker, airborne early warning [AEW] and logistical support warplanes. Soup to nuts type mission.

"In the next days the Italian stealth aircraft will take part in joint training with the local based F-15s of the 6th Air Wing, that will also be supported by the KC-767 tankers of the 1st Tactical Airlift Group to improve tactical skills and promote mutual understanding, and further deepen defense cooperation."

CONSIDER THIS MILITARY EXERCISE TO BE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE TO BE A MESSAGE AS FOR CHINESE CONSUMPTION. 

Loosely united coalition of nations seeking to deter perceived Chinese expansive designs in the area. Defense cooperation the Far East Italian style. Who would have thought.

See previous German Luftwaffe deployment to Japan 2022.

coolbert.

P2 Italia.

This is coolbert:

Gladio we have not discussed in a long time. NATO stay-behind units to be activated and become active in case of a massive Soviet Red Army attack on western Europe.

Here we have the Italian connection! With a twist!

"Declassified files expose British role in NATO’s Gladio terror armies"

From https://thegrayzone.com | KIT KLARENBERG· | JUNE 19, 2023.

"Newly declassified British files shed disturbing light on the origins and internal workings of Operation Gladio, a covert NATO plot deploying fascist terror militias across Italy. Have spies in London applied these lessons in Ukraine?"

"Newly declassified British Foreign Office files have added disturbing details to the history of Operation Gladio. The covert operation was uncovered in 1990, when the public learned that the CIA, MI6 and NATO trained and directed an underground army of fascist paramilitary units across Europe, deploying its assets to undermine political opponents, including through false flag terror attacks."

"Among them was a young Silvio Berlusconi, the media oligarch who served as Italian Prime Minister in four separate governments between 1994 and 2011. Listed as a member of the P2, the secret Cold War-era cabal of political elites devoted to Gladio’s aims, Berlusconi undoubtedly took some weighty secrets to the grave when he died this June 12th."

Calling Gladio fascists and terrorists too harsh! Paramilitary organized/trained/armed to resist a Soviet attack on NATO. Not to say there might have been extremist individuals among Gladio personnel but their numbers probably a small percentage of the entire force.

See previous blog entries [with many additional embedded links] that topic Gladio:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/01/ates.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/10/sf-roc.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2020/08/reprise.html

coolbert.

Borghese.

This is coolbert:

Before there was Prince Heinrich there was Prince Borghese?

Prince Borghese a very able Italian military commander during the second world war involved in a coup d’état 1970? 

WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH AND NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING!

Prince Borghese I had thought at the end of the Second World War having fled to Spain rather than be captured and interrogated by Allied forces.

"Junio Valerio Scipione Ghezzo Marcantonio Maria Borghese . . . was an Italian Navy commander during the regime of Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party and a prominent hard-line Fascist politician in post-war Italy. In 1970 he took part in the planning of a neo-fascist coup (dubbed the Golpe Borghese) that was called off after the press discovered it; he subsequently fled to Spain and spent the last years of his life there.

The Golpe Borghese (English: Borghese Coup) was a failed Italian coup d'état allegedly planned for the night of 7 or 8 December 1970. It was named after Junio Valerio Borghese, wartime commander of the Decima Flottiglia MAS and a hero in the eyes of many post-War Italian fascists.

Coup d’état unsuccessful! Thwarted!

See a Mark Ames Twitter thread the subject the Borghese coup d’état. Thanks to The War Nerd.

Thread

---------------------------------------------------------

Mark Ames

@MarkAmesExiled

"This rightwing German coup story has a lot of echoes of Italy’s 1970 Borghese Coup plot during Years Of Lead, right down to the fascist-prince leader. We did a Radio series on Prince Borghese’s coup plot, history & murky US backing, with  @Annibal97783312"

@TheWarNerd

------------------------------------------------------------

Mark Ames

@MarkAmesExiled

·Jan 25, 2021

"New Radio @TheWarNerd: We talk to @Annibal97783312 on one of the murkiest events in Italy's Years Of Lead: The 1970 Borghese Coup, led by a Fascist-era war hero, with apparent backing from Washington & NATO. But was it really a fascist coup? Lotta q's". [questions]

https://twitter.com/TheWarNerd/status/1353684336176934913

---------------------------------------------------------------

The coup as alleged a response to the Cold War political instability of Italy? Forty governments in forty years creates a situation where serious statesmanship and good governance become near impossible. Italy as a constituent member of NATO in jeopardy of not being able to contribute to the alliance in a meaningful way.

coolbert.

Beijing WW2.

This is coolbert:

The Italian military enigma? Asian style.

"COMMAND: ITALY’S FAR EASTERN ARMY AND NAVY FORCES"

By MARK FELTON | 11/23/2016

Italian presence the Pacific Theater WW2? Italians?

As extracted from the Mark Felton Internet article:

"For the Italian military forces stationed on land in China the armistice meant certain internment in Japanese prisoner of war camps. A small mixed army and navy force of 100 men, under the command of a Lt. Cmdr. Baldassarre of the Royal Italian Navy, garrisoned the Beijing radio station, within the Italian concession. Although lightly armed with infantry weapons, Baldassarre was determined to resist a Japanese infantry regiment with approximately 1,000 men supported by artillery and 15 light tanks. Outnumbered 10-to-l the Italians fought for more than 24 hours before surrendering. Afterward, the majority of Italians wanted to continue fighting on the Axis side. The 29 who did not were transported to a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Korea."

This combat action yet one more exception to the Italian military enigma? Italian armed forces during both World Wars their performance seen as SHAMFUL and even SCANDALOUS. The perception of the Italian military during WW2 in particular being that of cowardly troops, inadequate/antique equipment and downright incompetent commanders.

See prior blog entries the Italian soldier during WW2 those exceptions to the enigma:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/06/italy-ww2.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2019/05/johnny.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/01/bravery-courage.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2016/08/folgore.html

coolbert.

S800.

This is coolbert:

"before the Second World War Italy's technology was at an incredibly high level . . . achievements, especially in the sphere of aviation, submarines and high-speed launches, were really amazing . . . the Italians were the unrecognized geniuses of military and naval technology." - Suvorov.

THIS IS WHAT THE CANADIAN NAVY NEEDS!

From the Internet web site Strategy Page and thanks to same.

"SUBMARINES: The Small But Mighty S800"

"April 7, 2023: Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri recently revealed its new S800 submarine, built to operate in shallow waters or on the high seas. S800 is 51 meters (163 feet) long, displaces 850 tons submerged and has a crew of 16. S800 has AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) which enables the sub to travel up to a week underwater, moving slowly and quietly with its passive sonar able to detect any surface ships or other submarines. Max range is 3,600 kilometers [about two thousand miles[ and max endurance is 20 days. There are four torpedo tubes which can carry torpedoes or naval mines. There is room for one reload of the torpedo tubes. Maximum depth is 200 meters (640 feet), max submerged speed is 27 kilometers [16 MPH] an hour and max surface speed is 16 kilometers [about 10 MPH] an hour. S800 can be equipped with two or four torpedo tubes, each with an Italian Black Shark wire-guided torpedo. The first S800 will take about four years to build and the buyer can specify a number of options. Each S800 costs about a $ billion dollars, depending on options selected. There are some high-end electronic options for S800"

Comments:

* Submarines of this type ideally suited for Canadian needs and conditions. Primarily act as a defensive component of naval strategy, patrolling and guarding Canadian waters. Canada does not need a nuclear-powered submarine for extreme long range/ inordinate munitions/deep-water missions.

* Note too Black Shark torpedo also Italian. The Italians do have the brains of great inventors evidently. The Soviet/Russian GRU was right.

* A single boat however not cheap and must be understood as being so. New boats less prone to down time and surely patrol time much beyond that of the current Victoria class of Canadian submarine.

* Crew size miniscule so recruiting problem is minimal.

* One forward base far north in the summer, one forward base further south in the winter and a home port for extended down time and you are good to go.

coolbert.

Rationale.

This is coolbert:

Missiles to shoot down a balloon? Missiles?

"Why the U.S. used missiles, not cheap bullets, to shoot down Chinese balloon, 3 unidentified objects"

From yahoo.com | Peter Weber, Senior editor | February 15, 2023.

U.S. fighter jets fired five heat-seeking AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles to take down four aerial objects floating high over U.S. and Canadian airspace between Feb. 4 and Feb. 12, U.S. officials said. The unidentified floating octagon shot down over Lake Huron in upper Michigan required two Sidewinders, because the first one failed to detect the object, 'did not fuse,' and crashed 'harmlessly' into Lake Huron" 

WHY NOT THE INTERCEPTORS USING THEIR ORGANIC 20 MM CANNON AS A MORE APPROPRIATE MEASURE COMMENSURATE WITH COUNTERING THE PERCEIVED THREAT!

Devoted readers to the blog will have to read the entire article and find out the reasoning and rationality of using missiles rather than cannon during the intercept and shoot-down.

An intercept of this nature using air-air missiles as the weapon of choice fraught with more than a degree of danger? Think from over three decades ago now the strange case and never-fully-explained aviation disaster of Itavia 870. 

A Sidewinder can and does [as apparently in the air over Lake Huron] go rogue. Consequences potentially disastrous.

coolbert.

Austere.

This is coolbert:

The British do it. The Italians + British do it too. Dispersal exercise proof-of-concept during peacetime. See recent British ACE deployment blog entry.

"Italian F-35Bs Perform Austere Runway Exercise In Sardinia"

From theaviationist.com the article by DAVID CENCIOTTI September 1, 2022.

Military air operations combat warplanes "expeditionary exercises" a test-of-concept aircraft able to perform missions from a bare-bones airfield. Italians and British combined STVOL F-35B.

"Italian Air Force and Navy F-35B STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) aircraft carried out a joint expeditionary drill at Alghero Airport."

"After conducting several expeditionary exercises on the tiny island of Pantelleria where the local airfield has been used as a forward operating base for F-35Bs of the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force), Marina Militare (Italian Navy) (and also the Royal Air Force)  the Italian Defense has moved Alghero, on the northwestern coast of Sardinia, to carry out the latest ALARP (Air Landed Aircraft Refueling Point) drill"

"In fact, on Aug. 31, 2022, an F-35B of the  and one of the Marina Militare deployed to the Sardinian airport, where an austere runway (basically meaning a short runway located in a semi-permissive environment with limited ground support available) was simulated, carried out a hot-pit refueling with a KC-130J of the 46^ Brigata Aerea (Air Brigade) from Pisa, and took off again to take part in a mission inside PISQ . . . a large EW range located over central-east Sardinia, that also involved two F-35As and two Eurofighters."

Indicators here of enhanced readiness status that might alarm the Russian? War-time means and methods are being practiced that can be reasonably be expected to create suspicion in a questioning mind. One such activity should not cause any heart palpitations. Two such events and you can reasonably begin to wonder? Preparations are being made for big-things to come? I almost sound like a Hal Turner.

coolbert.

UXB Po.

This is coolbert:

"Fishermen found the bomb on the bank of the River Po due to a decrease in water levels caused by drought," Colonel Marco Nasi 

"Watch: Italian Army Detonates WWII Bomb Found In Dried Up River"

Thanks to the Internet web site zerohedge.com the article BY TYLER DURDEN | MONDAY, AUG 08, 2022.

"The Italian Army detonated a World War II bomb uncovered by fishermen on the drought-stricken Po River."

"Army specialists defused the 240 kg (530 pounds) U.S.-manufactured bomb found on Po's river bank near the northern village of Borgo Virgilio, close to the city of Mantua, last week.

Moving an unexploded bomb [UXB] around in that fashion is bad form? Normally the bomb would be left where it was found and blown-to-bits by "controlled explosion" in situ?

See recent previous blog entry a video of a World War Two "Tallboy" bomb detonation many decades after being dropped on a German target.

coolbert.

Beyond.

This is coolbert:

Beyond PoC!

Again as extracted from the "Aviationist" article the Italian air force deployment of F-35B warplanes to Iceland

"The Italian Air Force Has Deployed Its Two F-35Bs To Iceland For The First Time"

That Italian air force contingent now guarding the skies over Iceland as part of NATO mission consisting of a mix of F-35 Lightning warplanes, the A and B variants. That B version having the STOVL [short take-off vertical-landing] capability.

AS CURRENTLY ENVISIONED THE INTENTION OF THE ITALIANS IS TO HAVE ONE-HALF TO ONE-THIRD OF THEIR F-35 LIGHTNING AIRCRAFT THE STOVL VARIATION. [depending on who is doing the counting and budget constraints!]

Advantages of the F-35B to use expedient airstrips [or less than normally favorable] for operations recognized as a MAJOR [?] plus! A mixed air fleet of A/B warplanes F-35 desirable!

A PoC [proof of concept] exercise as has been previously tested by the Italians with the now on-going follow-up Icelandic air policing mission as a real-world test.

“This capability is extremely important to face new scenarios or situations like the one we had during the Gulf War. Our Tornado jets were deployed to an airbase [Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE] that was far away from the area of operations: this implied that our aircraft had to fly several hours and carry out several aerial refuelings before reaching their targets. The ability to operate from shorter runways can allow the selection of a closer airbase and solve the problem. In terms of flexibility, just think that in Africa there are about 100 runways that have a length between 2,800 and 3,000 meters but there are 20 times as many runways between 1,000 and 1,500 meters in length. Being able to use short runways allows you to multiply your ability to deploy where needed, in a more convenient and faster way, especially closer to the area of operation. Having an aircraft that is capable of taking off from shorter runways allows incredible flexibility even in those scenarios that are currently only barely conceivable. In case of conflict, aircraft that are able to operate from shorter runways can also be dispersed to increase their survivability. This flexibility to operate from bare/austere runways or even highways makes the air power more unpredictable and represents a fundamental capability in any scenario. For this reason, after carefully studying all the scenarios and costs, the Italian Air Force has identified, as done by other air arms, a mixed fleet of F-35A and B aircraft, as the most economically convenient and effective configuration.” - former ItAF Chief of Staff, Gen. Alberto Rosso.

Forward thinking Italian combat aviators as THINKING of aviation war fighting capability in the manner of a Douhet!

Does the United States Air Force [USAF] have such forward thinking commanders? USAF too will have a mix of F-35A and F-35B warplanes? I must consult with authority on this.

And thank you as usual "Aviationist"!

coolbert.

IPPN.

This is coolbert:

Italian Air Force to Iceland! Italians? Iceland?

From "The Aviationist" the article by DAVID CENCIOTTI | June 28, 2022.

"The Italian Air Force Has Deployed Its Two F-35Bs To Iceland For The First Time"

NATO MISSION AIR POLICING ICELAND!

"Along with the four F-35As supporting NATO’s Icelandic Air Policing, the Italian Air Force has deployed its two F-35B STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) aircraft for training in Iceland’s cold climate."

F-35B the Short Take Off Vertical Landing version of the Lightning warplane. Six F-35 total deployed, two of which are the STOVL version.

"For the third time in the last three years, Italy has deployed its F-35 Lightning II aircraft to Iceland, to support NATO’s Interim Air Policing mission 'Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland’s Peacetime Preparedness Needs (ASIC-IPPN)', more commonly known as Icelandic Air Policing."

YES, Italian Air Force Iceland. Italians doing their bit as part of NATO Icelandic Air Policing mission. Iceland having their airspace protected from hostile or possible hostile intruder aircraft. Iceland a constituent member of NATO BUT not having an air force. Everybody must chip in and do so on a rotating basis.

Very good real world training. Almost like a vacation I can imagine but with a lot of seriousness. Bravo Italians. Good hunting!

coolbert.

Steaming.

This is coolbet:

From the Internet web site "South Front" we have clarification the "steaming" of the entire "visible" Russian navy in the Mediterranean Sea. A cogent explanation?

"IN VIDEO: RUSSIA CONCLUDES LARGE-SCALE DRILLS IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA"

With a lot of images and video. Thanks "South Front".

"On February 25, the Russian Ministry of Defense [MoD] announced that it had concluded drills in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.:

"More than 20 vessels of the Russian Navy took part in the large-scale drills which began around ten days earlier. Tu-22M3 strategic bombers and MiG-31K fighter jets armed with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles also participated in the drills. The warplanes were deployed in Hmeimim Air Base on the Syrian coast."

""The drills were likely meant as a warning to the NATO ahead of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Currently, the NATO maintains a total of three carrier strike groups are situation in the Mediterranean Sea; the US Harry Truman carrier strike group integrated with the French carrier Charles de Gaulle’s task force and Italian carrier Cavour strike groups.""

THREE NATO CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS ACTIVE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. FRENCH, ITALIAN, AMERICAN. TWO OF WHICH BELONG TO NUCLEAR POWERS!

coolbert.