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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: UKR 1YR: Italy – NATO Security –Air Policing (TV)
HEADLINE: Defending NATO’s Edge: Air Policing on Romania’s Border With Ukraine
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: Monday 02/20/2022
BYLINE: Carla Babb
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania
VIDEOGRAPHER: Mary Cieslak
VIDEO EDITOR: Mary Cieslak
SCRIPT EDITORS: Aru Pande, Holly Franko, DJ OK
VIDEO SOURCE (S):
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: VPKGN
EDITOR NOTES: ((Courtesy: Italian Air Force)) for all shots inside plane cockpit
((ANCHOR))
[[Securing the skies has been a primary concern in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began, and for NATO countries bordering Ukraine and Russia, it is a job that is shared. Fighter pilots from Italy, Germany, the United States and others rotate through countries on the alliance’s eastern flank to keep constant watch for any threat crossing into NATO air space. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb caught up with members of the Italian Air Force as they practiced how to intercept threats entering Romania.]]
((Narrator))
((shot of Eurofighter in air))
((Courtesy: Italian Air Force))
An Italian Eurofighter patrols the skies near Romania’s border with Ukraine.
((Morelli getting out of jet, then 1:08 of team))
Italian Colonel Michele Morelli tells us his 150-man team arrived at this Romanian air base for one mission:
((Col. Michele Morelli, Italian Air Force))
((0:24-30))
“We’re basically here to protect Romanian airspace from any type of threat that might be out there.”
((NARRATOR))
((more Eurofighter shots, then Crimea 2014 footage)) ((Courtesy: Italian Air Force))
They are part of a massive NATO enhanced air policing operation, created in direct response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
((Carla Babb, VOA))
((3:13-16))
“Russia may say that this is provocative, but NATO says this is deterrence.”
((Col. Michele Morelli, Italian Air Force))
((3:16-18))
“Of course, this is deterrence. We are not, we are not here to fight any war.”
((NARRATOR))
((shot of plane taxiing of runway))
They serve as a sort of collective shield across NATO airspace.
((Col. Michele Morelli, Italian Air Force))
((3:43-56))
“Somebody comes to us, they cannot just expect a single country to face that threat, but a huge organization like NATO with a lot of fighters, a lot of pilots knowing each other and ready to protect the country.”
((NARRATOR))
((shot in the air, then one of the two jets going airborne))
Aircraft travel fast. An average airliner — much slower than a fighter jet — travels about seven miles a minute, so a team of two jets are always on high alert for potential intercepts and must be able to get airborne in less than 15 minutes.
((NAT))
((NARRATOR))
((shot with me and him at interview end))
To test their speed, Morelli and the Italians scramble.
((NAT: Siren goes off…”Gotta go!”))
((NARRATOR))
((getting ready to take off))
It’s called a T-scramble drill: a race to get cleared for takeoff and up in the air at any moment, day or night.
((Take off and showing off with a flip in the air))
The team makes it look easy.
((Go pro of him in cockpit)) ((Courtesy: Italian Air Force))
And now, with Russia's further agression in Ukraine, defense analysts say pilots like Morelli have become a vital addition to NATO’s eastern flank.
((Samuel Bendett, Center for New American Security))
“There's also an anticipation of a Russian military offensive at some point in the coming weeks, some already designate that this offensive may have been on the way
//cover here// ((Courtesy: Italian Air Force))
And so these NATO pilots are going to watch for Russian Air Force activity.”
((NARRATOR))
((Morelli landing, then taxiing back to the hangar))
Morelli’s team took just 11 minutes to take off. But he says they will be back at it in a few days, eager to race the clock again, knowing every second would count should a real threat enter NATO skies.
((shot of us shaking hands and the end of the scramble))
((CARLA BABB, VOA NEWS, Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania))
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania
Embargo DateFebruary 20, 2023 20:42 EST
BylineCarla Babb
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America, Voice of America - English
