62 // AUGUST 2018 #365 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com36° Stormo F-2000
Acknowledgement:
Translation by Frank McMeiken.aimed at acquiring weapon launch techniques.
The second, precision targeting, or PT, involves
using the pod in autonomous mode (self-lasing)
from each aircraft. Intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance (ISR), dedicated to
learning how to utilise the RecceLite pod, is
covered in the final prase. The course length
averages three months, but varies and may
be interrupted, depending on trainee pilot
experience, availability of aircraft in air-to-
ground configuration, and the unit’s operational
demands. Today, pilots arriving from the
flying schools will have gained some solidknowledge of air-to-ground operations during
Phase 4 training on the T-346As of the 212°
Gruppo, followed by an introduction to this
type of mission during the F-2000 conversion
course, undertaken by the 20° Gruppo.
On January 1 last year, the F-2000 achieved
initial operational capability (IOC) for swing-
role missions – a success that depends
on sufficient qualified pilots, targeting
pods and configured jets permanently
assigned and available to the wings.
Normally, swing-role pilots maintain
qualifications by flying CAS and emergencyCAS, interdiction (with self-lasing and buddy-
lasing) and reconnaissance missions. CAS
training is conducted in co-operation with the
AM’s Fucilieri dell’Aria (air fusiliers) and special
forces of the 17° Stormo, as well as units of the
Italian Army and the Brigata ‘San Marco’ marine
brigade. In particular, so-called ‘CAS weeks’- featuring escalating missions in continuous
exercises, linked to results from preceding
days – are organised. Thanks to such complex
missions, swing-role-qualified pilots can
maintain currency in both roles. For example,
they might plan to enter a combat area that
requires air-to-air operations, followed by transit
towards a target, deploying offensive munitions,
and then egressing in the air-to-air mode.
Lt Col D L spoke of the Eurofighter’s
performance in the offensive configuration:
“The aircraft flies well in air-to-ground;
at medium altitude it performs very well,
despite the presence of the pod. With a
load of bombs, the Typhoon suffers less
than other fighters, and the limits are mainly
determined by the armament’s aerodynamic
factors. The aircraft remains in ‘carefree
handling mode’, and the g limit is provided
automatically by the flight control computer.”
It’s rumoured that Kuwaiti pilots, used to
flying the F/A-18C/D, have been astounded
by the performance of a Typhoon loaded
with bombs – the aircraft apparently behaves
as if it was flying without external stores.
The Typhoon will undergo significant
further development in the coming years,
expanding its repertoire in both the air-to-
air and air-to-ground roles. For the AM,
work will also include integration with its
other future fighter – the F-35 Lightning II.
F-2000A MM7297 ‘36-23’, off the Italian coast. The jet displays the prancing horse emblem of First World War ace Francesco Baracca, symbol of the X° Gruppo.Above: Aircraft MM7318 ‘36-12’, a single-seat F-2000A, at its Gioia del Colle home base with a load of live
GBU-16 1,000lb laser-guided bombs.
AFM