Italy confirms its role as a reference point in the security of European airspace through two important training activities conducted between November and December 2025: Poggio Dart 25, a major NATO integrated air defense exercise, and APEX Foxtrot, a bilateral Air Policing simulation with France.
Two distinct events, but united by a single goal: to ensure a credible, interoperable air defense system ready to respond to any threat.
Poggio Dart 25: the Italian Air Force leads the Alliance's integrated air defense
From November 24 to December 4, 2025, the Poggio Renatico Range hosted the PODA25, one of the most complex NATO exercises dedicated to Command and Control (C2) and integrated air and missile defense.
Directed by the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACCC), the exercise brought together assets and personnel from multiple Alliance nations, consolidating the ability to operate in a multidomain, multinational context with high technological standards.
Assets and units involved
Italy deployed a wide range of operational capabilities:
- F-35, EF-2000, Tornado PA-200
- C-130J for tactical transport
- KC-767A for aerial refueling
- P-72A for maritime patrol
- MQ-9A and E-550A CAEW for ISR and C2
These were joined by:
- F-35B and AV-8B from the Navy
- JTAC from the Italian Army
- Allied assets, including USAF F-16s from Aviano and Turkish F-4s deployed in Istrana
C2, interoperability, and ACE concept
The PODA25 also represented an advanced testing ground for the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, thanks to the deployment in Cervia of the Deployable Air Defence Radar (DADR), integrated into the NATO air and missile defense system.
The missions – interceptions, escorts, simulated defense and attack activities – were coordinated through a solid C2 system, reinforced by the contribution of the NATO E-3A AWACS, which improved real-time situational awareness.
Statements
Major General Luca Maineri, Commander of the DACCC, highlighted:
“With the PODA25 exercise, the DACCC strengthens the Alliance's Defense Forces' ability to operate as a unit in a modern and complex context, ensuring security and operational readiness in every scenario.”
The PODA25 confirmed the DACCC's ability to operate as an autonomous command node, fully integrated with the NATO network and independent of fixed infrastructures.
Italy–France Air Policing: the APEX Foxtrot exercise strengthens common defense
On November 18, the bilateral exercise APEX Foxtrot took place, aimed at testing cooperation between Italy and France in managing complex air defense scenarios.
Directed by the French command CAPCODA and conducted together with the Aerospace Operations Command (COA) of Poggio Renatico, the activity simulated a hijacked civilian flight (“renegade”) scenario, one of the most delicate profiles in European Air Policing.
Operational activities
During the simulation:
- The Eurofighter Typhoons of the 4th Wing operated in coordination with the French Rafale Cs
- The missions were initially managed by the French centers, then handed over to the 22nd DAMI Group once entering Italian airspace
- Constant coordination with civilian air traffic control entities (Milan and Rome SCCAM)
Objectives and interoperability
The exercise consolidated:
- The sharing of tactical information (situational awareness)
- The procedures for cross-border handover
- Alignment with NATO standards for Air Policing
An activity that confirms the operational cooperation between two of Europe's most advanced air forces.
The DAMI Groups
The 22nd DAMI Group of Licola and the 11th DAMI Group of Poggio Renatico are the units of the Italian Air Force responsible for the detection, identification, and control of national and NATO airspace 24/7, 365 days a year, under the Aerospace Control Brigade.
Conclusion
The combination of a large-scale multinational exercise like Poggio Dart 25 and a targeted bilateral cooperation activity like APEX Foxtrot offers a clear picture of the current state of Italian air defense: a fully interoperable, technologically advanced system, integrated into the NATO network and constantly trained for real and complex scenarios.
A continuous commitment that ensures the security of national airspace and contributes concretely to strengthening Europe's defensive posture.
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