Ambassador Alberto Colella and Honorary Consul Pétur Björnsson visited the Task Force of the Italian Air Force (TFA) at Keflavik on 25 September. The TFA is temporarily deployed at the Keflavik airbase as part of the NATO air policing to surveil Iceland and NATO airspace.
Welcomed by the TFA Commander, Colonel Daniele Mastroberti and by leading officers of the Icelandic Coast Guard, the Ambassador and the Honorary Consul watched, among other things, a scramble simulation (immediate takeoff of two fighters to intercept and identify a target), visited the Eurofighter aircrafts and met the staff of the Italian mission.
The Italian Task Force contingent will be at Keflavik from 12 September to 3 October 2018 and consists of 122 military personnel, seven pilots and four Eurofighter Typhoon F-2000 aircrafts. The Icelandic Coast Guard has expressed its appreciation for the competence and flexibility demonstrated by all the staff of the TFA.
The Italian mission at Keflavik – agreed in NATO – supports Iceland by protecting the country’s airspace and, at the same time, it offers a good training opportunity for the Italian crews to practice in a unique geographical environment and in difficult weather conditions thus strengthening their ability to operate in an unusual context.
