Italy Joins US, NATO for Virtual Combat Exercise
Dan Arkin
| 22/07/2018
Image: Italian Ministry of Defense
The US Air Forces in Europe, the Italian Air Force, and NATO participated in a virtual exercise from different locations throughout Germany and Italy.
Spartan Alliance 18-8, held on July 17-20, 2018, is a large command and control weapon system, air and ground simulator training exercise with virtual and constructive aircraft.
The exercise linked 22 simulators that flew alongside and against each other in one virtual conflict. Pilots flying Tornado fighter jets from simulators at Ghedi Airbase in Italy flew side by side with virtual Eurofighters piloted from simulators at Gioia del Colle Airbase, while T-346 jet trainers, flown from simulators at Lecce Airbase, posed as enemy aircraft.
Predator drones were also involved, as were C-130J aircraft, which provided simulated air refueling. NATO airborne early warning and control aircraft oversaw the exercise, and the Luftwaffe virtually deployed its Patriot anti-missile system. F-18s, F-15s and A-10s were virtually flown from the US Air Force Warrior Preparation Center in Ramstein, Germany.
The Italian Air Force Commander, Gen. Enzo Vecciarelli, said the F-35 will be used in these exercises “as soon as possible.”
Spartan Alliance will continue with two more iterations this year.
[Sources: USAF, Defense News]
Image: Italian Ministry of Defense
The US Air Forces in Europe, the Italian Air Force, and NATO participated in a virtual exercise from different locations throughout Germany and Italy.
Spartan Alliance 18-8, held on July 17-20, 2018, is a large command and control weapon system, air and ground simulator training exercise with virtual and constructive aircraft.
The exercise linked 22 simulators that flew alongside and against each other in one virtual conflict. Pilots flying Tornado fighter jets from simulators at Ghedi Airbase in Italy flew side by side with virtual Eurofighters piloted from simulators at Gioia del Colle Airbase, while T-346 jet trainers, flown from simulators at Lecce Airbase, posed as enemy aircraft.
Predator drones were also involved, as were C-130J aircraft, which provided simulated air refueling. NATO airborne early warning and control aircraft oversaw the exercise, and the Luftwaffe virtually deployed its Patriot anti-missile system. F-18s, F-15s and A-10s were virtually flown from the US Air Force Warrior Preparation Center in Ramstein, Germany.
The Italian Air Force Commander, Gen. Enzo Vecciarelli, said the F-35 will be used in these exercises “as soon as possible.”
Spartan Alliance will continue with two more iterations this year.
[Sources: USAF, Defense News]
