Combat aircraft

No looking back

By January 1995, the GRUPAER was

ready for its maiden deployment and

the Giuseppe Garibaldi sailed from

Taranto to Somalia, where three Harriers

participated in Operation ‘United Shield’

to provide air cover for the evacuation

of United Nations peacekeeping forces.

With fairly limited staffing and just three

jets, the squadron achieved a 100 per

cent availability rate, in the process

supporting ‘San Marco Regiment’ special

forces and US Marines.

Despite being a relatively small

force, the Harriers have repeatedly

demonstrated their usefulness. Procured

primarily as fleet defenders, their ability

to swiftly join the Giuseppi Garibaldi

Above: Italy

operates a single

Harrier squadron

and its pilots are

very proud of their

jets. Andrea Avian

Left: The

capabilities of

the GRUPAER

AV‑8B+ fleet have

recently been

enhanced with

the GBU‑54 laser

JDAM.

Andrea Avian

FORCE REPORT // ITALIAN HARRIERS

78 April 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net

76-83 Italian Harriers C.indd 78 15/02/2018 13:50