The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) is a branch of the Italian Armed Forces that has expanded its role into the space sector. It conducts research, experimentation, and testing in aeronautics and space, including activities related to safe access to space and the physiological implications of staying in orbit. The Italian Air Force collaborates with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), universities, research centers, and industries to enhance national expertise in space-related fields. They also operate the Italian Space Operations Centre (ISOC) for Space Situational Awareness (SSA), contributing to space traffic management and collision avoidance.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Chief of the Air Force, General Antonio Conserva, emphasized the importance of initiatives that promote the Aeronautica Militare to the public.
Technical partners of the Aeronautica Militare Balloon Cup include Confindustria Piacenza and Visit Emilia.
Sergio Maron is the director of the event and is a former pilot of the Aeronautica Militare.
Katia Tarasconi is the Mayor of Piacenza and will attend the Aeronautica Militare Balloon Cup.
Astronaut Andrea Patassa, a pilot experimental of the Aeronautica Militare, will participate in the event.
General Antonio Conserva is the Chief of Staff of the Aeronautica Militare and will attend the event.
Tommaso Foti is the Minister for European Affairs and will attend the Aeronautica Militare Balloon Cup.
The Aeronautica Militare Balloon Cup is certified as a FAI Category 2 event.
The Ax-3 pilot is Walter Villadei, an Italian Air Force officer who trained as the backup pilot for Ax-2 and flew on Virgin Galactic’s first commercial VSS Unity suborbital flight in June 2023.
The Italian Air Force operates MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft to support Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions in Italy, over the Mediterranean, and in support of NATO operations.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. delivered a new Mobile Ground Control Station to the Italian Air Force as part of the Mid-Life Modernization update.
On 2023-11-09 the Italian Air Force conducted the first flight of a new MQ-9A Block 5 Remotely Piloted Aircraft built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. delivered a new MQ-9A Block 5 Remotely Piloted Aircraft to the Italian Air Force as part of a Mid-Life Modernization update.
The Italian portfolio on Ax-3 includes experiments led by the Italian Air Force (ItAF) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) involving Italian universities, research centers, and companies.
Walter Villadei will serve as pilot of Ax-3 and is an Italian Air Force colonel who trained as a backup for the Ax-2 mission.
Walter Villadei, an Italian Air Force pilot, flew on Virgin Galactic’s first commercial suborbital flight on 2023-06-29 and trained with Axiom Space while serving as a backup on the Ax-2 mission to the International Space Station in May.
Virgin Galactic performed the June 29 flight for the Italian Air Force under a contract signed in October 2019.
Virgin Galactic and the Italian Air Force signed a contract in October 2019 to fly three Italian payload specialists on a dedicated research flight.
Virgin Galactic signed a contract with the Italian Air Force for the mission in October 2019 with initial intent to fly as soon as late 2020 or early 2021.
Galactic 01 will carry three people from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy under a contract Virgin Galactic signed with the Italian Air Force in 2019.