Excellent results were achieved after the first operational evaluation made by NATO of a Eurofighter Typhoon Wing. A NATO evaluation team certified the Italian Air Force's 4th Fighter Wing at the Grosseto Base as a NATO Quick Response Force.

This means that the 4th Wing becomes the first Eurofighter flight unit to obtain this important NATO certification.

The operational evaluation took place during the "Operation Discrete Jury" exercise, which tested the ability of the 4th Wing to be deployed abroad for peace-keeping and peace-making missions.

The exercise involved many air wings' activities, from rescue to telecommunication services, self-defence and survival capabilities and, more particularly, logistic support, maintenance and flight operations.

It was in this very field that the operations of the Grosseto Base's Typhoons were positively evaluated, having demonstrated excellent operational availability and compliance with national and NATO's operational requirement.

Enzo Casolini, Eurofighter CEO, said: "We are very pleased that the first Wing of Eurofighter Typhoon has achieved such an important goal. This clearly demonstrates the maturity of the Eurofighter programme as well as highlighting the capabilities of the aircraft and its operational availability which reached a very high level".

The 4th Fighter Wing, together with the 5th Wing of Cervia, the 36th of Gioia del Colle and the 37th of Trapani, is one of the Italian Air Force units assigned to the control of Italian airspace 24 hours a day all year round.

Within the 4th Fighter Wing, the 20 Squadron is also active with its twin-seat Typhoons which are tasked with the "transition" of Italian pilots assigned to the Eurofighter Squadrons.