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ASAB bringing in a storm: TYPHOONS

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristine Legate
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
ALI AL SALEM AIR BASE, Kuwait --  U.S. Air Force 386th Air Expeditionary Wing and the Italian National Contingent Command Air/Task Force Air Kuwait leadership came together to commemorate the first operational takeoff of two F-2000 Eurofighter Typhoons from Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, April 20, 2021.

The aircraft are part of Task Group Typhoon, which supports Operation Inherent Resolve under the IT NCC, a unit based at ASAB since April 2021.

“We are here to protect coalition forces and the Iraqi population, and to contribute to peace and stability in the region,” said Italian National Contingent Air Commander, Italian Air Force Col. Luca G. Vitaliti.

The Typhoons were previously based out of Ahmed al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait before being transferred to ASAB.

“A huge effort was made over at ASAB and AJAB to find, build and adapt spaces to accommodate the IT NCC,” Vitaliti said. “The Italian Contingent and the 386th AEW worked together to brainstorm, design and coordinate projects.”

The combined efforts of units across the base ensured this project’s success. From units such as the communications, contracting and security forces squadrons, to the munitions flight, finance office, lodging, airfield managers, coalition partners and many more, the whole ASAB team brought this mission to life.

“The team integrated hundreds of man-hours to plan and flawlessly execute this mission,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. M. Randy Joseph, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron deputy commander. “We united over 85 Joint engineers from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and the Italian Air Force to develop the infrastructure to house the IT NCC and their aircraft months ahead of schedule.”

The Italian Air Force’s ability to house Typhoons at ASAB is an example of how each coalition partner’s strengths contribute to the larger team’s mission. Fostering these partnerships is vital to maintaining air superiority and defense over the area of responsibility. Each nation plays a role in airpower while developing tactics together to safely carry out operations as a cohesive team.

“Bringing this capability here is historic. It is an important moment for our base and our coalition partnership. Luca and his team were instrumental in facilitating this move three months early with no loss of mission coverage for the Combined Forces Air Component Commander,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Henry H. Triplett, 386th AEW commander. “In coming together as a Joint and coalition team and leveraging our individual strengths, we were able to finish the project early and further strengthen the overall fighter capability in the region.”