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A practical air loading test programme was conducted, 14-15 November, at the Italian airbase in Villafranca, involving Italian and Ukrainian forces. At this airbase, near the historic city of Verona, a Ukrainian Illuyshin-76 flew in to conduct an air loading test with an Italian surface-to-air missile system, SPADA.

As early as 1993, a shortfall in Alliance strategic mobility capabilities was identified, particularly as far as some bulky air defence equipment is concerned. As air defence equipment can be expected to be employed very early in a conflict situation, e.g. to protect points of embarkation/debarkation, the flexibility of the airlift capability is particularly important. This airlift shortfall, which is also highlighted as a prominent Defence Capability Initiative issue, can be alleviated by Partner contributions in case of peace support and crisis response operations. Within this context, the Ukrainian/Italian load test successfully demonstrated that airlift operations between the Alliance and certain Partner nations can be envisaged for any future coalition operation.

During the test, Ukrainian Cargo Airways (UCA) carefully assessed the loading of a complete SPADA system and conducted a pre-test loading of the entire operational SPADA system on 14 November. This full system test was followed by a demonstration loading of selected SPADA elements, conducted in public, on 15 November 2000. Three loading techniques were demonstrated:

  1. using the on-board winch to pull in the SPADA trailer mounted surveillance radar;
  2. using the organic hoist with the on-board rails/crane system to load the radar control van; and
  3. having the truck, with the missile launcher platform, drive in on its own power.

All tests went smoothly, despite the short lead time provided, due to the high professional standards of the Italian 703 SPADA unit Team as well as the UCA IL-76 (UR-UCB) Team.

The test was organised by the NATO Air Defence Committee (NADC), within the framework of the Guidelines for Cooperation with Partners on Air Defence. The basic principle for carrying out this test was reciprocity. Both nations expanded significant effort and resources. They also gained valuable experience, which will be particularly relevant in any potential crisis situation.