Italian National Royal Air Force (Kingdom of Italy)
| 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(s) | 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 the Air Force | Air Squadron 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 establishment, the service has held a prominent role in modern Italian military history. The aerobatic display team is the Frecce Tricolori.
Overall organisation
The Chief of the Air Force General Staff in Rome supervises eleven 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 - C.S.A.) 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
- Libya Air Command (Comando Aereo Libia, COMAERLIB) in Palermo;
- Balkan Air Command (Comando Aereo Balcani, COMAERBALC) in Valona;
- Higher Command Italian East Africa (Comando Superiore Africa Orientale Italiana - CSAOI) in Addis Abeba;
- Air Force Schools Command (Comando delle Scuole dell’AM - CSAM) in Bari;
- Air Force Command Rome (Comando Aeronautica Militare Roma - COMAER) at Centocelle Airport;
- 5th Strategic Air Brigade (5ª Brigata Aerea Strategica - 5ªBAS) in Lombardy.
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 Force General Staff
The Air Force General Staff (abbreviated as SMA) is one of the top bodies of the Italian National Royal Air Force. Placed directly under the Air Force Chief of Staff, he is governed by the Air Force Sub-Chief of Staff (SCSMA), with the rank of Air Force General. The headquarters of the Air Force General Staff is in Rome at the Air Force Building.
The Air Force Chief of Staff directly depends on:
- the General Office of the Chief of Staff;
- the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff.
The Deputy Chief of Staff coordinates the Air Force General Staff:
- 1st Unit - Organisation and Personnel (SMA-ORD)
- 2nd Unit - Security (SMA-SIC)
- 3rd Unit - Aerospace Instrument Planning (SMA-PIANI)
- 4th Unit - Logistics (SMA-LOG)
- 5th Unit - Communication (SMA-COM)
- 6th Unit - Economic and Financial Affairs (SMA-FIN)
- Airspace office (Ufficio Spazio Aereo, SMA-USA)
- Air Force Central Legal Affairs Office (Ufficio Centrale per gli Affari Giuridici, UCAG)
Air Fleet Command
The Air Fleet Command (Comando della Squadra Aerea or C.S.A.) 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.
The Air Fleet Command is the body in charge of managing the units of the Air Force (intermediate Commands, Air Brigades, Wings, military airports, training departments, Flight Groups, Radar Groups) and to maintain their readiness in order to guarantee the security of the national airspace.
The Air Fleet Commander is supported by a Deputy Commander and by a General Staff. The Air Fleet Command is subdivided into four Intermediate Commands:
- Air Operations Command (Comando Operazioni Aeree) in Poggio Renatico
- Combat Forces Command (Comando delle Forze da Combattimento) in Milan
- Support and Special Forces Command (Comando Forze di Supporto e Speciali) in Rome
- 9ª Brigata Aerea RAO-GE (9th Reconnaissance and Target Acquisition - Electronic Warfare Air Brigade) at Pratica di Mare Air Base
The C.S.A. also directly manages the meteorological service.
Air Operations Command
The Air Operations Command (Comando Operazioni Aeree, C.O.A.) implements the instructions of the Air Squadron Command regarding participation in the air operations, exercising the command and control functions of the search and rescue assets, the "operational" air transport (excluding State flights) and air defence.
Secondly, the Air Operational Command performs the tasks of direction and coordination of air traffic for those vehicles that are not subject to the regulation of general traffic), provides for the training of armed force personnel to operate in Command and Control Centers in the air operations. Finally, the Command may be called to supplement normal security in the event of events of particular relevance, by reinforcing air patrols.
The Air Operations Command, in Poggio Renatico, controls:
- Air Force Coordination and Control Service Department (Reparto Servizi Coordinamento e Controllo Aeronautica Militare - RSCCAM), at Ciampino Air Base (Air traffic management)
Operations Preparation Unit
- Operations Preparation Unit (Reparto Preparazione alle Operazioni - RPO), in Poggio Renatico
- General Service Support Unit Reparto Supporto Servizi Generali (Reparto Supporto Servizi Generali - RSSG), in Poggio Renatico
- Integrated Missile Air-defence Unit Reparto Difesa Aerea Missilistica Integrata (Reparto Difesa Aerea Missilistica Integrata - Rep. DAMI), in Poggio Renatico
Combat Forces Command
The Combat Forces Command (Comando Forze da Combattimento, C.F.C.), based in Milan, has the mission to acquire and maintain the operational readiness of all combat assets of the Air Force, providing the operational efficiency of weapon systems, vehicles and materials, training and standardization of personnel and constant updating and optimization of operating procedures, in compliance with the guidelines of the Superior Authorities.
The Combat Forces Command controls:
- 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
The Command of the Support and Special Forces (Comando delle Forze di Supporto e Speciali, C.F.S.S.), based at Centocelle Airport, constitutes the pole of excellence for the Armed Forces in the context of Combat Support. The mission assigned to the Command is to conduct aerial activities to support the combat forces, ensuring the preparation and implementation of the personnel and means provided, as well as the relative protection and projection in the various scenarios of operation.
The Command of the Support and Special Forces controls:
- Capodichino Air Base Command;
- Technical Services Group;
- Logistic Services Group;
- Force Protection Company;
- Sigonella Air Base Command;
- 1st Aviation Brigade for Special Operations 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 ADRAN (17th ADRAN Wing) at Furbara Air Base (Tier-1 Special Forces)
- 3rd Air Brigade at Pisa Air Base
- 14º Stormo Sergio Sartoff (14th Wing) at Pratica di Mare Air Base
- 15º Stormo Nicolò Cobolli Gigli(15th Search and Rescue Wing) at Gioia del Colle Air Base
- 31º Stormo Carmelo Raiti (31st Wing) at Rome Ciampino Airport
5th Strategic Air Brigade
The 5th Strategic Air Brigade (5ª Brigata Aerea Strategica - 5ª B.A.S.) is responsible for the use of nuclear weapons within the Italian National Royal Air Force: it is one of the three components of the Italian nuclear triad. The command of the 5th Strategic Air Brigade is located in Lombardy under the Alps. The 5th Strategic Air Brigade is directly dependent on the Air Force General Staff, and not under nor the Joint Operations Command nor the Air Squadron Command.
- 101° Stormo Speciale (101st Special Wing): on 72 Aermacchi N4.
- 101° Gruppo Autonomo Rifornimento in Volo (101st Autonomous Flight Refueling Group): on 18 Savoia-Marchetti D-246A tanker aircraft. The tankers allow the Brigade to have a global strike ability.
Air Force Logistic Command
The Air Force Logistic Command (Italian: Comando Logistico dell'Aeronautica Militare), based in Rome, is a major command of the R.A.M.N.I., on an equal footing of the Air Fleet Command. Its mission is to provide the technical and logistic support necessary to achieve the maximum operability of the Italian Air Force, to guarantee in particular the efficiency of the weapon systems, equipment, vehicles, infrastructures and materials, of goods and services, as well as health care to staff. The Logistic Command is responsible for procuring, storing and distributing the means and materials necessary for the life of the Units.
The Logistic Command ensures the necessary support to flight lines, to weapon systems, to radar systems, to information and telecommunications systems, to police, health and infrastructure services, ensuring testing and technical-operational evaluation of the weapon systems, means and materials. To achieve the objectives pursued in compliance with the responsibilities of the institute and the directives of the Chief of Staff of the RAMNI, the Logistic Commander is supported by some bodies:
- Particular Secretariat;
- General Office of the Logistic Commander;
- Certification Office;
- Logistic General Staff.
The Air Force Logistic Command controls:
- Deputy Logistic Commander;
- 2nd Division – Aircraft, Armaments and Avionics Support in Rome;
- 3rd Division – Command and Control, Communication e IT Support in Rome;
- Support Service in Rome;
- Commissariat and Administration Service in Rome;
- Infrastructure Service in Rome;
- Air Force Medical Service in Rome;
- Flight Test Centre at Pratica di Mare Air Base;
- Experimental and Inter-Force Training Range of Salto di Quirra.
Higher Commands
The Higher Commands (Italian: Comandi Superiori) are R.A.M.N.I. commands which deal with defence issues related to the realms of the Italian Empire other than Italy. These Higher Commands are held by an Air Squadron General, and retain an high degree of autonomy from the Air Staff: in peacetime they are under almost full operational control of their Higher Commander (Comandante Superiore), which in turn depends on the Chief of Air Staff. However, in wartime, they depend only on the Defence General Staff, on the Joint Operations Command and on Air Fleet Commander. It is to note that local Governments have no authority over the relevant Higher Commands or Air Region Commands. As of 2013, only the Higher Command Italian East Africa exists, while sea defence of the Mediterranean airspace is carried out by four Air Region Commands directly part of the central organisation. Mediterranean Air Region Commands have mainly logistical and administrative functions.
Higher Command Italian East Africa
The Higher Command "Italian East Africa" (Italian: Comando Superiore Africa Orientale Italiana, HQ Addis Abeba) is a detachment of the Air Force with jurisdiction for all the East African airspace. Navy Higher Command AOI exercises command and control authority over R.M.N.I. forces deployed within its jurisdiction. It is to note that the Army Higher Command AOI has the same territorial boundaries of the Air Force Higher Command AOI (although of course a very different scope), in order to ease the cooperation and the coordination between them.
The primary base is at Ada Airport, in Debre Zeyit, where the 4th Air Brigade, the 1st AOI Fighter Wing and the 10th AOI Bomber Wing are based. There are four smaller bases used by the air force, these are:
- Bahar Dar Airport: 2nd AOI Bomber Wing;
- Diredaua International Airport: 3rd AOI Fighter Wing;
- Gibuti Airport: 1st AOI Autonomous Transportation Flight Group;
- Gode Airport: 6th AOI Fighter Wing;
- Macallè Airport: 7th AOI Bomber Wing; 2nd AOI Autonomous Transportation Flight Group;
- Mogadiscio International Airport: 4th AOI Fighter Wing; 5th AOI Bomber Wing;
- Asmara Airport: 8th AOI Fighter Wing;
- Massaua Airport: 9th AOI Fighter Wing.
The Aviation Inspector for the Navy (Ispettore dell’Aviazione per la Marina - 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 (Aerosiluranti, AS) 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 41st AS Wing 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 (or at least four Flying Groups directly subordinated to the Air Brigade Command), and responds to the command of a pilot air brigade general. Air Brigades include:
- a command;
- at least two Storms (or corresponding units);
- 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 five 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;
- 4th Air Brigade, at the Ada Airport;
- 5th Strategic Air Brigade, at the Martina Franca Airport;
- 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 organisation 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 Transport and Rescue Squadron;
- Operational Support or Services Groups.
The General Staff of the Air Force may decide to give the name of a Wing also to Organisations and elements of organisation 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 often operates within a Wing, defining itself as the second subdivision of the peripheral operational organisation. 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 speciality. 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.
Rank insignia
The Italian Armed Forces, and therefore the Italian National Royal Air Force, have complete sets of rank insignia, military badges and military uniforms, in order to display the unity of action of every member and body; this improves the esprit de corps, and contributes to the identity formations of both the collective body. The distinctive badge common to all State armed units (i.e. Army, Navy, Air Force and Police Corps) is made up of the military five-points stars, in opposition to Roman Gladius and the laurel wreath of the Party armed units.
| R.A.M.N.I. Special Ranks insignia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Special rank | Capo di Stato Maggiore di Forza Armata | Capo di Stato Maggiore della Difesa |
| English translation | Chief of Service Staff | Chief of Defence Staff |
| Corresponding Air Force rank (Italian) | Generale di Squadra Aerea con Incarichi Speciali | Generale d'Armata Aerea |
| Corresponding Royal Air Force rank (UK) | Air marshal | Air chief marshal |
| Cuff insignia |  |
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| R.A.M.N.I. officers ranks and insignia | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army rank | Sottotenente | Tenente | Capitano | Maggiore | Tenente Colonnello | Colonnello | Generale di Brigata Aerea | Generale di Divisione Aerea | Generale di Squadra Aerea |
| English translation | Under-Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Captain | Major | Lieutenant Colonel | Colonel | Air Brigade General | Air Division General | Air Squadron General |
| Corresponding Royal Air Force rank (UK) | Pilot officer | Flying officer | Flight lieutenant | Squadron leader | Wing commander | Group captain | Air commodore | Air vice-marshal | Air marshal |
| Cuff insignia |  |
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