ISSN 2239-2122 16 IAI Research Papers T HE N. 1 European Security and the Future of Transatlantic Relations, edited by Italian combat aircraft have played an increasing important role in the R OLE The IAI Research Papers are brief monographs written by one or Riccardo Alcaro and Erik Jones, 2011 international missions in which Italy has participated in the post-Cold War era OF more authors (IAI or external experts) on current problems of inter- – from the First Gulf War to Libya, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and N. 2 Democracy in the EU after the Lisbon Treaty, edited by Raaello Matarazzo, I TALIAN THE ROLE OF ITALIAN 2011 Afghanistan. This participation has been a signicant tool of Italy's defense national politics and international relations. The aim is to promote greater and more up to date knowledge of emerging issues and policy, and therefore of its foreign policy towards crisis areas relevant to its N. 3 The Challenges of State Sustainability in the Mediterranean, edited by F Silvia Colombo and Nathalie Tocci, 2011 national interests (from the Western Balkans to the Mediterranean), as well as IGHTER FIGHTER AIRCRAFT IN trends and help prompt public debate. towards its most important allies within NATO and the EU. This IAI publication N. 4 Re-thinking Western Policies in Light of the Arab Uprisings, edited by A Riccardo Alcaro and Miguel Haubrich-Seco, 2012 analyses the role of these military capabilities in recent operations and their IRCRAFT prospects for the future. In fact, a number of trends can be inferred from the CRISIS MANAGEMENT A non-prot organization, IAI was founded in 1965 by Altiero Spinelli, N. 5 The transformation of the armed forces: the Forza NEC program, edited operational experience in ten international missions, in which Italy deployed by Michele Nones and Alessandro Marrone, 2012 IN its rst director. more than 100 combat aircraft in more than 13,000 sorties, clocking up 36,000 C N. 6 Strengthening the Africa-EU Partnership on Peace and Security, edited RISIS The Institute aims to promote understanding of international politics ight hours. These trends are considered in light of the recent developments OPERATIONS: by Nicoletta Pirozzi, 2012 M through research, promotion of political ideas and strategies, disse- in the doctrine of Air Power, as well as possible future scenarios for the use of ANAGEMENT mination of knowledge and education in the eld of foreign policy. N. 7 Stop Mass Atrocities, edited by Luis Peral and Nicoletta Pirozzi, 2013 combat aircraft in crisis theaters. The aim of the analysis is to understand the IAI main research sectors are: European institutions and policies; N. 8 The Uneasy Balance, edited by Riccardo Alcaro and Andrea Dessì, 2013 needs of the Italian Armed Forces – the Air Force and Navy in particular – TRENDS AND NEEDS Italian foreign policy; trends in the global economy and internationa- which will have to replace a substantial portion of their current combat eets N. 9 Global Turkey in Europe, Edited by Senem Aydın-Düzgit, Anne Duncker, O lisation processes in Italy; the Mediterranean and the Middle East; Daniela Huber, E. Fuat Keyman and Nathalie Tocci, 2013 in the near future due to the gradual obsolescence of the aircraft in service – PERATIONS IAI defence economy and policy; and transatlantic relations. N. 10 Italy and Saudi Arabia confronting the challenges of the XXI century, an operational necessity linked to the inevitable political decisions regarding edited by Silvia Colombo, 2013 the options available in the eld of military procurement for maintaining the capabilities required so far for international missions. In this context, the : T N. 11 The Italian Civil Security System, Federica Di Camillo, Alessandro Marrone, RENDS Stefano Silvestri, Paola Tessari, Alessandro R. Ungaro, 2014 study looks into the acquisition of F-35 aircraft, also considering the industrial aspects of a multinational program that will produce more than 3,000 units AND N. 12 Transatlantic Security from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa, edited by for over 12 countries. N Riccardo Alcaro and Nicoletta Pirozzi, 2014 RESEARCH PAPERS EEDS N. 13 Global Turkey in Europe II, edited by Senem Aydın-Düzgit, Daniela Huber, Meltem Müftüler-Baç, E. Fuat Keyman, Jan Tasci and Nathalie Tocci, 2014 Vincenzo Camporini is Vice President of IAI Tommaso De Zan was intern in the Security and Defence Programme at IAI V. Camporini, T. De Zan, A. Marrone, M. Nones, A.R. Ungaro N. 14 Bridging the Gulf: EU - GCC Relations at a Crossroads, edited by Silvia Alessandro Marrone is Researcher in the Security and Defence Programme at IAI Colombo, 2014 Michele Nones is Head of the Security and Defence Programme at IAI N. 15 Imagining Europe, edited by Nathalie Tocci, 2014 Alessandro R. Ungaro is Research Assistant in the Security and Defence N. 16 The Role of Italian Fighter Aircraft in Crisis Management Operations: Trends Programme at IAI and Needs, Vincenzo Camporini, Tommaso De Zan, Alessandro Marrone, Michele Nones, Alessandro R. Ungaro, 2014 Vincenzo Camporini, Tommaso De Zan, Alessandro Marrone, Michele Nones, Alessandro R. Ungaro 9788868123291_148_FM_2 SEGUICI SUI SOCIAL NETWORK 12.40 EURO IAI Research Papers The Role of Italian Fighter Aircraft in Crisis Management Operations: Trends and Needs Vincenzo Camporini, Tommaso De Zan, Alessandro Marrone, Michele Nones, Alessandro R. Ungaro Edizioni Nuova Cultura Series Editor Natalino Ronzitti _________________________ First published in March 2014 by Edizioni Nuova Cultura For Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) Via Angelo Brunetti 9 - I-00186 Roma www.iai.it Copyright © 2014 Edizioni Nuova Cultura ‐ Roma ISBN: 9788868123291 Cover: by Francesca Minnocci Graphic Composition: by Luca Mozzicarelli The unauthorized reproduction of this book, even partial, carried out by any means, including photocopying, even for internal or didactic use, is prohibited by copyright. Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 9 Preface ............................................................................................................................................... 23 List of Acronyms............................................................................................................................. 27 1. Italy’s participation in crisis management operations: fighter aircraft’s role ................................................................................................................................................ 31 1.1. Iraq (1990‐1991) ........................................................................................................ 31 1.2. Bosnia‐Herzegovina 1993‐1998 ....................................................................... 35 1.3. Kosovo (1999) .............................................................................................................. 42 1.4. Afghanistan (2001‐2014) ........................................................................................ 47 1.5. Libya (2011) .................................................................................................................. 53 1.6. The role of Italian fighter aircraft in crisis management opera‐ tions ................................................................................................................................... 59 2. Current and future air operations: doctrine and trends ...................................... 65 2.1. Air Power: doctrine’s fundamentals ................................................................... 65 2.2. Trends from the recent operational experience ............................................ 69 3. Scenarios of possible future air operations ............................................................... 73 3.1. Establishing and enforcing a No‐Fly Zone: “Protect Turians” scenario ............................................................................................................................ 74 3.1.1 Strategic context ............................................................................................... 74 3.1.2 Mission objectives ............................................................................................ 75 3.1.3 Critical factors of the operational environment ................................. 76 3.1.4 Adversary’s capabilities and Course of Action .................................... 76 3.1.5 Air Component’s Course of Action and required capabi‐ lities ........................................................................................................................ 77 3.2. Air support to land‐based operation: “Stability in Banon” sce‐ nario .................................................................................................................................. 80 3.2.1 Strategic context ............................................................................................... 80 3.2.2 Mission objectives ............................................................................................ 81 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.2.3 Critical factors of the operational environment ................................. 82 3.2.4 Adversary’s capabilities and Course of Action .................................... 83 3.2.5 Air Component’s Course of Action and required capabi‐ lities ........................................................................................................................ 83 4. The military needs of Italian Armed Forces