Ghedi air base, near Brescia in the province of Lombardy, is home to 6º Stormo ‘Alfredo Fusco’. Since the disbandment of 50º Stormo, and 15 5º Gruppo’s return to 6º Stormo, the base has become home to all of Italy’s Tornado squadrons. Niels Roman, Roy van Sonsbeek and Robin Coenders report.
ITALIAN TORNADOS
IN ALMOST 35 years of Aeronautica Militare (AM, Italian Air Force) service, a combination of enhancements and major upgrades has ensured the Tornado remains one of NATO’s premier attack aircraft.
The AM has confirmed plans to keep the jet on inventory until at least 2025, with operations centred on 6º Stormo at Ghedi.
A great deal has changed for Ghedi and 6º Stormo over the past year. The unit received its first Tornado in 1982, at which point one of its squadrons, 155º Gruppo, moved to Piacenza under 50º Stormo. With 50º Stormo disbanding on September 14 last year, Piacenza has been left as a deployable operating base lacking permanent flying units.
When the stormo was deactivated, 155º Gruppo ‘Pantere Nere’ (155th Squadron ‘Black Panthers’) moved its Tornado ECRs (designated EA-200Bs in service) to become part of 6º Stormo at Ghedi. To make room for the ECRs, 6º Stormo lost 156º Gruppo ‘Le Linci’ …
