For over 50 years, 15° Stormo (or 15thWing) has been tasked with Search and Rescue (SAR) duties for the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force). Spread over the whole of Italy, the main base of the unit is at Cervia on the north-east coast, along the Adriatic Sea. The Wing has different squadrons, or Centro CSAR, seven of these being strategically located around Italy at various bases, operating alongside other front-line squadrons. Ready to provide services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, these squadrons perform search and rescue missions for the Italian Air Force as well as on public utility activities including search for missing persons at sea or in the mountains, providing emergency medical transport for critical patients. Their geographical distribution is to ensure that rescue helicopters are not more than 90 minutes of flight ‘away’ from any location in mainland Italy.
Re-organised in 1965 by the Air Force as a Search and Rescue Wing, the unit initially operated a mixture of helicopters including the Agusta Bell AB-47 and Agusta Bell AB-204B, plus fixed wing aircraft including the Grumman HU-16A. In 1977, this become a full helicopter wing with introduction of the Sikorsky S-61R, locally designated as HH-3F Pelican. In 1986, the Italian Air Force added the Agusta Bell AB-212 to the unit to further boost capabilities. The Wing has accumulated much experience over the years with the Pelican and the AB-212 and from 1993 onwards, were also engaged in search and rescue tasks in conflict areas abroad, conducted by Italian armed forces such as those in Somalia, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. With the move in 2010 to its current base at Cervia, the 15° Stormo was able to further develop its skills and expand mission such as for Slow Mover Interceptor (SMI) in air defence, which task was assigned to the unit several years earlier.
The HH-139 is more agile compared to the larger HH-101.
With deployments in different hostile environment and also tasked with personnel recovery missions, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) was developed further with the HH-3F as a key platform. There is also continuous used for regular training with the Co.F.S. (Special Forces Command).
During 2008, the Italian Air Force began evaluating replacement for its aging Pelican helicopters and a different role was envisaged for future tasks of the Wing. The final decision taken was to procure the AgustaWestland AW139 medium-sized twin-engined helicopter (locally designated HH-139A) to replace the HH-3F and AB-212 specifically in the SAR role. The first of thirteen HH-139As were handed over on 8 March, 2012.
In addition, for the CSAR role, the Italian Air Force told the decision to procure the AgustaWestland AW101 medium-lift helicopter (locally designated HH-101A Caesar), 15 of these being ordered, the first entering operational service on 25 February 2016. Introduction of the Caesar provided the Wing with a state-of-the-art helicopter providing much boost in operational efficiency. Operational envelope of the helicopter was quickly expanded with more capability, the Wing being the first in Europe to achieve certification for helicopter night aerial refuelling in autonomous manner with the KC-130J Hercules tanker. This dramatically increased range of the helicopter and enabled the crew to operate for a longer time and to places much further away from their operating base. With such split in task, it also enabled the Wing and crews to dedicate their time and effort in these specialised areas.
HH-101s of 15° Stormo over a mountain monastery
With introduction of the Caesar helicopter, the 1stBrigata Aerea Operazioni Speciali (Special Operation Air Brigade) then moved to Cervia, the 1st Brigata Aerea Operazioni supporting Special Forces unit of the Air Force. With the HH-101A chosen as the dedicated CSAR platform, these will work closely with this unit while having both units at one base will enable more efficient training and further development of operational tactics.
The HH-101A can carry a combination of up to five crew members plus twenty fully equipped troops for Special Operations and can be equipped with up to three M134 7.62 mm Gatling-type machine guns. The helicopter is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, self-protection systems, Identification Friend and Foe (IFF), Link 16, Gabbiano radar system, Missile Launch Detection System (MILDS) and a Laser Warning Receiver (LWR).
With the introduction of the HH-139 and HH-101 15, Stormo has been able to split the tasks between SAR and CSAR
The HH-139A on the other hand is smaller and lighter, but is equipped with similar state-of-the-art equipment, including Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible glass cockpit, automatic flight control system with SAR modes, weather/search radar, Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) and Auto Deployable Emergency locator transmitter (ADELT).
Text and Photos: Erik Bruijns and Mark de Greeuw