Italian air force structure. Italian Air Force See what "Italian Armed Forces" is in other dictionaries

Italian air force structure. Italy has a very rich aviation history - suffice it to say that it was the Italians who first used aircraft for military purposes (in 1911 in Libya during the Italo-Turkish war). Currently, the Italian Air Force - Aeronautica Militare - is one of the three main branches of the country's armed forces.
The Italian Air Force has about 470 aircraft and helicopters and approximately 43 thousand people serve.

Emblem and identification mark of the Italian Air Force

The motto of the Air Force is "Virtute Siderum Tenus" ("with courage to the stars"). IN organizational The air force consists of the Air Squadron Command, the Support Command, the Aviation Schools Command, the Air Operations Command and two commands of the aviation districts 1st in Milan and 3rd in Baria.
Italian air force structure, command of the air squadron (COMANDO DELLA SQUADRA AEREA).
Almost all aviation units are subordinate to this Command, with the exception of training ones.

Basic organizational units

• - stormo (Stormo - letters, "flock"), roughly corresponding to the regiment;
• - gruppo (Gruppo) - analogue of the squadron;
• - Squadriglia - corresponds to the link.

The most modern combat vehicles are the Typhoon fighters, which are armed with three stormos (air regiments): the 4th in Grosseto (9th and 20th combat training groups), the 3rd in Gioia del Colle (10th and 12th -th group) and 37th in Trapani (18th group).

Italian Air Force multirole fighter Eurofighter "Typhoon" photo, two have refueling probes, and the first does not

Attack aviation is represented by Tornado fighter-bombers, which are in service with the 6th stormo in Gedi (102nd combat training, 154th and 156th groups), as well as the 50th stormo in Piacenza (155th group specializing in reconnaissance and electronic warfare).
Lighter AMX fighter-bombers are available in the 32nd stormo in Amendol (13th and 101st combat training groups, as well as the 28th unmanned aerial vehicles) and the 51st stormo in Istrana (103rd and 132nd i intelligence). The 41st stormo is deployed in Sigonella, which includes the 88th group with base patrol aircraft. Most of the transport workers have been consolidated into the 46th air brigade (Pisa), which includes the 2nd and 50th groups with medium C-130J aircraft, as well as the 98th with light C-27J. 14th stormo (Pratica di Mare) includes tanker aircraft KS-767 and light transport R.180, 31st (Ciampino) - aircraft for transportation dignitaries. The 15th Stormo, headquartered in Cervia, combines helicopters assigned to five search and rescue centers located at various airfields.

"Tornado" IDS of the 6th regiment of the Italian Air Force. Afghanistan, 2008

Ground air defense is provided by the 2nd stormo (700th and 701st groups with the Spada air defense system), the 1st special forces brigade and the 313th aerobatic team "Frekke Tricolori" ("Three-color arrows") are also subordinate to the command of the air squadron, serving on MB.339PAN aircraft.

Italian aerobatics Frecce tricolori

Aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force "Frecce tricolori". RIAT International Airshow Gloucestershire 2013

at the Flugtag air show in Germany in 88, on a collision course, one plane rams a group, damaging two. As a result of the disaster, about 400 people were injured, 70 died

Italian air force structure aviation school command.
Future military pilots undergo initial training in the 70th stormo (Latina), which includes the 207th group with SF.260EA propeller-driven aircraft. Basic and advanced training is provided by the 61st stormo in Lecce. Its 213th group is equipped with MB.339A jets, and the 212th - MB.339CD with more modern on-board equipment.

High-speed check-in Lamborghini and fighter-bomber Tornado on a 3-kilometer segment. Leading on on initial segment, Lamborghini still lost, Tornado's 38,000 l / s played its part, he crossed the finish line at a speed of more than 750 km / h, and a sports car of more than 300

For the training of helicopter pilots, the 72nd Stormo (Frosignone) serves with the 208th Group (NH 500E helicopters), which also provides training for flight personnel for army and naval aviation. The Support Command includes various ground units (supply, repair, etc.), and the Air Operations Command includes two radar groups (12 radar posts).
Modernization
The Italian Air Force is currently completing the purchase of the last of the 87 ordered Typhoon fighters.

Italian Air Force AMX during a training flight. Nellis Air Force Base, 2009

Tornado and AMX aircraft are undergoing modernization, and in the future they will be replaced by fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter-bombers.
It is planned to purchase 90 of these aircraft: 60 F-35A and 30 F-35 (including 15 for naval aviation), but this number is likely to be revised down.

In the near future, the Air Force will include two AWACS G.550 aircraft purchased in Israel as an "offset" for the supply of training M.346 "Master" to this country. The latter were also bought by Italy itself - so far in relatively small quantities (15 units). Obsolete base patrol aircraft "Atlantic" are being replaced by ATR 72ASW machines, created on the basis of passenger ones. The command pays great attention to updating the fleet of search and rescue helicopters.

heavy helicopter AW101, plans to increase the fleet by 15 machines

To replace light vehicles AB 212, deliveries of AW 139 helicopters began, and HH-3F, starting in 2014, will be replaced by heavier AW 101 (15 units ordered).
Aircraft and helicopter fleet of Italians.
Multirole fighters

"Typhoon" F-200 (VTF-2000 - 60/11 (+ 25 ordered)
Fighter-bombers

• Tornado IDS/ECR - 60/15
• AMX/AMX-ET - 43/12

Basic patrol aircraft

• "Atlantic" - 4
• ATR72ASW-1 (+4 ordered)

Electronic reconnaissance aircraft

• G.222-3

Tankers

• KS-767 - 4

Transport aircraft

• C-130J/C-130J-30/KC-130J - 5/10/6
• C-27J-12
• A319-3
• "Falcon" 900 - 5
• Falcon 50-2
• R.180-14

• SF.260-30
• MB.339A/PAN/CD - 34/18/29
• М.346-3 (+12 ordered)

Helicopters

• NH500E-49
• AB 212 - 33
• AW139-3 (+17 on order)
• HH-3F-21

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Unmanned aerial vehicles RQ-1B-6

• RQ-1B-6
• MQ-9A - 6

Composition of the armed forces

Ground troops

Naval Forces

Air Force

Carabinieri

The article is missing.

2012 reform

The proposed reform will lead to the creation of a new model of the Armed Forces, which should balance the costs of maintaining personnel (70% in the budget of the Ministry of Defense for 2012) and other sections of the military budget (current maintenance of the Armed Forces and the purchase of new weapons and military equipment). The goal, announced by Minister di Paolo, is to bring the structure of the military budget to European standards: 50% on personnel, 25% for the functioning of the Armed Forces and 25% for the purchase of weapons. The budget of the Ministry of Defense will be frozen at the level of 12-14 billion euros for the period 2012-2014.

Following the announcement of a 41-unit reduction in F-35 fighter jet purchases, other programs will also soon see sharp cuts in the Defense Department's procurement budget. In particular, the procurement programs for NH90 helicopters and U212-type submarines may be affected.

The armed forces will be reduced from 190,000 to 151,000: 43,000 vacancies (of which 10,000 civil servants) will be cut to save 2 billion euros. In 2021, the army will have 18,000 officers, 18,000 non-commissioned officers, 22,300 sergeants, 56,000 full-time volunteers and 24,000 fixed-term volunteers. The number of generals and admirals will be reduced by 30%. Those people who will be affected by the reform should be transferred to other state structures. The government also expects to stimulate their recruitment in the defense industry.

Gradual increase in investments in the renewal of the army from 16,424 euros to 26,458 euros per soldier.

Reform of command structures: merging overlapping command structures within the three branches of the armed forces and abolishing territorial commands, which are seen as an obsolete remnant of the Cold War.

The abolition of two brigades, the closure of bases, the sale of unused real estate: it is planned to reduce 30% of army infrastructure (barracks, training grounds, etc.) within five to six years. The ground forces will be reduced from 11 to 9 brigades, part of the heavy weapons, helicopters, artillery and supplies will be eliminated. In the Navy, the number of patrol ships, as well as minesweepers and submarines (from six to four) will be reduced from 18 to 10. In the Air Force, fighters and tactical attack aircraft will be reduced (there are currently Tornado, AMX and AV-8B aircraft in service).

Reducing the number of purchased F-35 fighters by 41 units: an order for 90 fighters has been confirmed. The Ministry of Defense expects to save 5 billion euros. According to Defense Minister Giorgio di Paola, the adoption of the F-35 will replace almost 160 Italian aircraft, that is, one new aircraft will replace 1.8 old aircraft.

Retention of the air wing of the aircraft carrier Cavour: Italy remains interested in modifying the F-35B VTOL fighter.

Necessary reductions in other programs for the purchase of weapons: according to the rule approved by the Supreme Council of Defense on February 8, 2012, it is possible to scale up programs (reduction, postponement of funding) in order to maintain at a reasonable cost obsolete weapons that were planned for replacement. This is most true of the NH90 helicopter procurement program (416 million euros in 2011 with a total program cost of 3.8 billion euros) and U212 submarines (168 million euros in 2011 with a total program cost of 1.8 billion euros). Euro).

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Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia Հայաստանի Զինված Ուժեր The emblem of the Armenian armed forces ... Wikipedia

Abyssinia

The area of ​​Abyssinia was 3.5 times the area of ​​Italy (without colonies). The capital Addis Ababa was located almost in the center of the country. Abyssinia could become Italy's resource base, as its subsoil was rich in minerals, including gold and oil. Diverse climatic conditions countries and fertile soils made it possible to develop agriculture (2-3 crops per year), cattle breeding, cotton growing, etc. Abyssinia was a poor agricultural country. At the same time, there was little bread, and during the war it was bought in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. The main export commodities were raw leather and coffee. Industry was present only in the form of handicrafts.

Abyssinia is distinguished by the fact that most of the territory is filled with high uplands, on which terrace-like mountains of an average height of 2500-3500 meters rise. They are separated by a wide depression (fault) in the center of the country, which begins in the depths of Africa, in the region of Lake Tanganyika. The depression ends at the Red Sea and divides the mountains into the northern (Eritrean) and southern (Somali) ranges.

Mountain gorges are impassable. The Eritrean mountains represent a series of lines for consistent defense by the front to the north and northeast. The northern part of the Eritrean Ridge is in Eritrea, which made it easier for the Italians to launch an offensive. The mountainous terrain of the country facilitated defense and partisan operations, and at the same time worsened the possibility of using equipment. The most convenient for the offensive was the strip in the fault area. But here, to the east, was the Danakil Desert. Thus, for the blitzkrieg, troops were needed ready to fight in the mountain and desert theater, and the corresponding equipment.

From the waterfront highest value played the river Takkeze with tributaries. On the northern front, the border line was the Mareb River. Lake Tana, which was important for irrigating the cotton plantations of Sudan and Egypt (the Blue Nile flowed from it), was the subject of a dispute between England and Italy. On the Blue Nile in the Sennar region, the British built a dam in 1925 to irrigate the fields. This grandiose construction gave Britain a reason to demand control over the regime of the Blue Nile in northwestern Abyssinia. In the south, in the fault area, a chain of lakes and a number of rivers flowing from the Somali Range covered Addis Ababa from Italian Somalia. In many areas of the east of the country, during the period of drought, the problem of water supply was acute. The main forest tracts were located in the basin of the Takkaze River and along the rivers of the southern slope of the Somali Range. These forests allowed for partisan operations.

From June to September, the so-called. a period of "great rains", which created great difficulties in the use of mechanized transport, and also seriously raised the level of rivers and other bodies of water. Therefore, the Italian command planned a blitzkrieg, what to complete fighting before the big rains. In addition, in the region of the Somali Ridge and Addis Ababa there was still a period of "small rains" - from March to May (they were brought by monsoons from indian ocean).

In Abyssinia, the road network was poorly developed. Almost all the paths were for pack transport. The so-called. "imperial" route - caravan road from Eritrea to Addis Ababa. The same paths led from the south to the second most important city in Ethiopia - Harar. The road between Addis Ababa and Dessier, with appropriate repairs, allowed vehicular traffic. This road could be extended to the port of Assab, which the Italians took into account. The Ethiopian capital was connected by a single-track railway to the French port of Djibouti, but this road was a French concession. In addition, the Abyssinians could use two roads to communicate with the outside world (during the war with Italy). Two roads went from Addis Ababa to Gallabat and Kurmuk (Sudan), one road from Harar to British Somalia. These routes could be used to obtain grain and ammunition. Thus, there were few communications in Abyssinia, which required serious road work and road protection from the Italians.

The population of the country totaled 12 million people. The main core of the population was the Amhara group (5 million people). Their language was dominant. Abyssinia was dominated by feudal and patriarchal structures. Between the emperor (negus) and the big princes (races) there were major contradictions on issues of domestic policy related to the modernization of the country, the creation of a centralized state, a regular army and reforms aimed at the final elimination of slavery. Separate races, dissatisfied with the policy of centralization and modernization of the country, which led to the loss of power and income, rebelled more than once and had connections with European powers interested in the weakness of Ethiopia. As a result, Italy could rely on Ethiopian collaborators, traitors who put their personal interests above national ones. In addition, contradictions were growing between the feudal class and the peasant masses, mostly landless. In Ethiopia, uprisings began more than once.

Thus, the external enemies of Ethiopia could use some of the feudal lords who were dissatisfied with the modernization of the country, as well as national and religious contradictions. The technical backwardness of the country, poorly developed transport and communications, lack of food security, the presence of dependent tribes and slaves weakened the country's defense capability.

Benito Mussolini meets Ethiopian traitors in Rome

The armed forces of the parties to the beginning of the war. Italy

The Italian command, preparing for war, proceeded from two main conditions. First, due to political complications in Europe, it was impossible to weaken the armed forces in Italy. Therefore, instead of the divisions sent to Africa, new ones were immediately formed. As a result, the army in the metropolis not only did not decrease, but even increased. Mussolini boasted that he would keep the conscripts of 1911-1914 under arms. birth until he sees fit, and that "900 thousand soldiers fully ensure our security ... They are equipped with the latest, released ... military factories," which "work at full speed for several months."

Secondly, it was recognized that it was necessary to send such a force to Abyssinia in order to end the war as soon as possible. Already during the war, as it became clear that nothing threatened Italy in Europe and the world community was indifferent to the tragedy of Abyssinia (except for the USSR), Italy carried out additional mobilization and strengthened the colonial group.

The Italian troops were three types divisions:

Regular troops consisted of mobilized soldiers. They had good combat training.

Blackshirt divisions - voluntary militia national security. These were the armed detachments of the National Fascist Party, organized by Mussolini. They included representatives of the nationalist intelligentsia, retired officers, bourgeois youth, and landowners. The Blackshirts, although inferior in combat training to regular troops, had a high morale, so they were interspersed in army corps and task forces.

The colonial (native) divisions did not have a firm organization and were included in the regular troops. They were fairly well trained and knew the local conditions well. But these units did not enjoy the full confidence of the command, so they were distributed between regular and fascist formations. Thus, the expeditionary army had a rather motley composition.

The first mobilization order was announced on February 5, 1935. By the end of August 1935, the mobilization of troops, originally intended for the war with Abyssinia, was completed. In general, 5 regular, 4 black-shirt (fascist) and 2 native divisions were mobilized in several stages and sent to war. In addition, separate militia, police and native units that were not part of the divisions were formed and sent to the front. This amounted to more than 270 thousand soldiers. Together with the mobilized workers - 30 thousand Italians and 45 thousand local population of Eritrea and Somalia, up to 350 thousand people were concentrated on the Abyssinian front at the beginning of the war. Already during the war, Italy transferred reinforcements. The Italian forces increased to 500 thousand people, including 9 divisions of the regular army (7 infantry, 1 Alpine and 1 motorized), 6 divisions of the fascist militia. At the end of the war, the expeditionary army consisted of up to 21 divisions, including 7 blackshirt and 4 colonial divisions, 1 cavalry brigade and 35 separate battalions. Thus, Italy formed a powerful expeditionary army to end the war in short time and not prolong the fighting.

Italian troops were equipped according to local conditions. In addition, they tried to ensure that the contingents could quickly get used to local conditions. Natives were sent to infantry divisions that were transferred to the Eritrean (Northern) front high mountain areas Italy; troops destined for the Somali (Southern) front were replenished with natives of Sicily, as well as people who had experience living in the subtropical and tropical conditions of South and Central America. Colonial (native) troops were replenished with the indigenous population of Eritrea, Somalia and Libya. The population of Eritrea and Somalia provided up to 15% of the expeditionary army.

Italy was quite seriously preparing for the war, the lessons of the last war, which ended in defeat, were remembered. The troops underwent a course of tactical training in the highlands. For officers, many of whom knew the conditions of colonial service, special courses were organized. The Italian General Staff issued a special instruction for action in the Abyssinian theater. The troops received the task that, having captured a certain area, they carefully mastered the occupied territory, built roads, bridges, and organized the work of the rear. It was necessary to continue offensive operations. Before the war, Italy organized an intelligence network in Ethiopia that studied the country, bribed the feudal lords,
and carried out subversive propaganda. This activity was facilitated by the absence of the Abyssinian security service and the use of diplomatic, trade, scientific and research missions.

Taking into account the fact that Britain could block the main communication through Suez, Italy took seriously the preparation of the areas of concentration of the expeditionary army in Eritrea and Somalia. If necessary, they were to become the main bases for the army. Ports were expanded, roads, airfields, etc. were built. First of all, the possibilities of ports in Eritrea were increased. So, after the modernization, the main port of Massawa could receive more than 40 instead of 2-3 steamers per day. The port of Assa was also reconstructed, in Italian Somalia - the ports of Mogadishu and Bandar Qasim. In addition to the existing railways, the Massawa-Asmara line was built, Mogadishu-Lug was under construction. Since the main forces were concentrated in the north, apart from railway, the Massawa-Asmara highway and the cable car were built. The ports of Mogadishu and Bandar Qasim were connected by a highway. The airfield network was equipped and communication lines were laid. To ensure a calm concentration of incoming troops in the border zone, small forts with wire fences were prepared. They were initially defended by colonial troops, and then regular units began to be located behind them. However, the Abyssinians did not interfere with the enemy, they only hastily strengthened their border posts.

Great attention was paid to the water supply of the army, which was especially important in the eastern part of Ethiopia, where droughts occurred. Special units were introduced into the expeditionary army, which, on the one hand, were supposed to build a network of artesian wells, on the other hand, to deliver water to the troops by tank trucks (200 cars, 2500 liters each, for 10 thousand people) and transport aircraft in desert areas. To accommodate troops in the hot regions of Eritrea and Somalia, barracks were built from materials with low thermal conductivity. In the main points of the colonies, warehouses for supplies were built, refrigerators for meat were placed. The ration of a soldier of the expeditionary army consisted of bread, meat, sugar, coffee, canned vegetables, fats and spices. The wearable supply of a soldier consisted of 2 liters of water, a 4-day ration of food (crackers and canned food). For this, personal ammunition had to be reduced from 200 to 110 rounds.

The general command of the Italian troops in East Africa was carried out by General Emilio de Bono (from November 1935 - Field Marshal Pietro Bodoglio). Italy deployed the main strike force in Eritrea, where 10 regular and fascist divisions arrived. Of these, the Northern Front was formed, first consisting of 3, and then 5 corps (75% of all forces of the expeditionary army). The front struck at Dessier (Dessie) and further on the Ethiopian capital. At the end of the war, there were 5 corps on the Northern Front and two groups of generals Couture and Mariotti to provide flanks. The southern front in Somalia was of auxiliary importance and was supposed to tie up as many Ethiopian troops as possible, advancing in the direction of Harer and Addis Ababa. Here the troops were combined into two operational groups (up to two divisions). The southern front was commanded by Rodolfo Graziani. There was also a central operational direction (up to one division). The troops of the Central Front were supposed to secure the flanks and communications of the Northern and Southern groups and advance from the Assab area in the direction of Dessier.

Italian Armed Forces (Italian: Forze Armate Italiane)- a set of troops (forces) of the Italian Republic designed to protect the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of the state. Consist of ground forces, naval forces, air forces and carabinieri forces (Carabinieri Corps). The date of the emergence of the Italian Armed Forces can be considered 1861, when Italy gained independence.

Italian Armed Forces:

Conscription age: none, because under the current law, young people born after December 31, 1985 are not subject to conscription;

Service life: none;

Combat-ready population (men): 15-49 years -14248674 in 2001;

Combat-ready population (men): correspond to military service 15-49 years old - 12244166 in 2001;

Military labor reserves (reach military age annually): 304,369 people in 2001;

Military spending: 2009: $20.3 billion, 1.7% of GDP.

The number of armed forces - 114,000 people in 2006.

Italian professional army

"An epochal event" - so emotionally, Italian Defense Minister Sergio Mattarella described the decision of the national parliament to abolish compulsory military service by 2007. However, the emotions here were quite appropriate. First of all, because at last a full-fledged professional army is being born in the Apennines, and millions of young Italians will no longer have to experience conflicting feelings when receiving the infamous summons to military service. Indeed, an entire era is coming to an end, the beginning of which was laid by Napoleon back in 1802. However, if desired, the idea of ​​​​forming an army on the principle of conscription can be considered an Italian invention, since three centuries before Napoleon, the wise Nicolo Machiavelli put forward it, not believing in the strength of the Florentine mercenaries.

Formally, the new law refers only to the suspension of military service, since Article 52 of the Italian Constitution provides that "defence of the Fatherland is the sacred duty of a citizen." Thus, in the event of the outbreak of war or the emergence of another extreme situation, the practice of conscription for military service can be resumed. Nevertheless, it is obvious that Rome has taken a course towards the creation of a professional army, the strength of which by the end of 2006 should reach 190,000, that is, it will be reduced by 80,000 servicemen. The law provides for a five-year service for soldiers with the possibility of renewing the contract twice for two years. It is also possible to conclude a contract for only one year. It is assumed that, having retired from the ranks of the armed forces, the majority of yesterday's servicemen will be accepted into the police, fire departments, and the civil defense service. Contract soldiers will be paid 2 million liras (about $1,000) a month, while now privates receive only 180,000 liras. In addition, the reform opens up the possibility for women to hold almost any position in all branches of the armed forces.

More about the Italian army can be found at (in italian).