Diplomatic crisis between Italy and India worsens over jailed marines in anti-piracy task March 8, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Italian Navy, Maritime Security , 4commentsAny Indian juridicial action “not fully in line with international law risks creating a dangerous precedent concerning international peace and anti-piracy missions; missions to which Indian military take part and whose effectiveness and operational capability would be put at risk ”: this is the content of the warning statement relayed by the Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh following the decision of a court in the southern state of Kerala who jailed for two more weeks, while investigation is underway, the two Italian Navy marines, accused to have killed two Indian fishermen in a shooting off India’s coast on Feb. 15.
The two Italian soldiers were on an anti-piracy mission on board the merchant ship Enrica Lexie. The presence of military personnel for VPD (Vessel Protection Detachment) is ruled by an Italian law compliant with the UN anti-piracy resolution and there are about 100 military currently aboard cargo ships in areas under threat of pirates.
Although the episode is still under investigation, the position of Rome is that the shooting happened in international waters and the case should be judged in Italy. Furthermore, Italy says that military should be gived absolute judicial immunity to the foreign state’s jurisdiction (as happens in Afghanistan, for instance). On the other side, the Indian authorities say that the victims are Indian hence the case should be handled by New Delhi that doesn’t grant the validity of the VPD (that is valid between NATO and EU members).
The Italian Foreign Affairs Minister has visited India last week while a diplomatic delegation is still on-site to try to find a solution to the stand-off.
This episode has some similarities with the incident of the USMC EA-6B (callsign “Easy 01″) that in 1998, during a low level mission from Aviano airbase hit a cableway at 360ft and caused the death of 20 people.
The crew was not judged in Italy, because an Italian court recognized that NATO treaties gave jurisdiction to U.S. military courts that, in spite of some violations to the regulations for military VFR flights in the area, found the pilot and the navigator not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide (later they were found guilty for having destroyed a videotape recorded during the doomed flight).
Related articles
- Alleged killing of two Indian fishermen in anti-piracy operation sparks diplomatic crisis between India and Italy (theaviationist.com)
- India: Italians Jailed in Two Deaths (nytimes.com)
Indian Navy Dornier 228 films Costa cruise ship adrift in the Indian Ocean February 28, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Maritime Security , add a commentThe video below was filmed by an Indian Navy Dornier Do 228. It shows the Costa Allegra cruise ship adrift in the Indian Ocean.
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The Indian Navy has deployed one Dornier to Seychelles under a government to government treaty. The patrol aircraft is stationed at Victoria, is operated for Exclusive Economic Zone surveillance and anti-piracy patrols by Indian aircrew in response to requirement projected by the Seychellois government.
According to this press release, the airplane will fill the gap until a new Dornier under manufacture at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, India, is handed over to the Seychelles government.
Here’s an image of an Indian Navy Do.228.
In the meanwhile, helicopters have been used to deliver food and satellite phones on board.
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- Cruise ship aground at Isola del Giglio: the role played by rescue helicopters (theaviationist.com)
- Rescued from pirate waters: Stricken Costa Allegra towed to safety after on-board blaze (mirror.co.uk)
Costa cruise ship adrift in world's most dangerous waters. Seychelles Coast Guard airplane, ships launched to the rescue. February 27, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Maritime Security , add a commentIt’s not a lucky period for Costa cruise ships.
Little more than a month since the Costa Concordia ran aground on rocks off the Isola del Giglio Island, Italy, another Costa cruise ship is facing an emergency. The Costa Allegra (188 meters long, 28,597 tonnes, 399 cabins, capacity of 1,400 pax) is adrift with 1,049 people on board, in the dark, about 250 miles southwest of the Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean.
Image credit: AP Photo/Tano Pecoraro
The ship had left Madagascar on Saturday and was due to reach Mahe, in the Seychelles, on Tuesday. Following a fire (that has been extinguished), the ship is immobilized, with no electric lights and emergency batteries being used to keep essential services going. Although there’s no immediate danger for the people on board, all passengers and part of the crew are at the muster stations.
Merchant ships and tug boats have been directed to the rescue of the liner but the first asset to reach the stranded ship has been an unspecified maritime patrol aircraft belonging to the Seychelles Islands Development Company & Coast Guard launched by Seychelles International airport.
The aircraft has overflown the Costa Allegra assessing the status of the ship and relaying it to the Coast Guard and other ships involved in the rescue operation.
Mahe also hosts a U.S. drone detachment involved in the anti-piracy activities in the Horn of Africa (and are believed to launch air strikes against terrorist camps in the region): indeed, the Costa Allegra is adrift in an extremely dangerous waters, where the risk of pirate skiff attacks is ranked high.
For this reason, among the people on board the ship there are also Italian Navy armed guards: a Military Security Team is embarked on all Italian ships in seas under threat of pirates. A standard practice on all ships these days, even if Somali pirates have never hijacked cruise ships in the area.
Two Italian Navy riflemen belonging to the San Marco Battalion, are currently under custody in India pending the investigation about the alleged killing of two Indian fishermen 30 miles off the southern Indian coast on Feb. 15.
Image via Guido Olimpio
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- Recognized Maritime Picture, Sensor Fusion and AIS: inside the Italian Navy’s new Maritime Operation Center (theaviationist.com)
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F-35 progress report. The year so far in review. February 23, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : F-35 , 1 comment so farUpdate Feb. 23 22.47 GMT
Lockheed Martin has just released a media update that provides some interesting figures about the F-35 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) flight test plan. The press release traces the history of the JSF program since the beginning of 2012. However, I’ve modified it a little bit to add some interesting information about the program: either officially released news by partner countries authorities or details reported by media all around the world.
- On Jan. 9, AF-4, an F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) test aircraft, reached the highest altitude to date in an F-35; 43,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL).
- Lockheed Martin ferried the first two production model F-35B Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps on Jan. 11. The aircraft, known as BF-6 and BF-8, are now assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 residing with the host 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Fla.
- Demonstrating the ongoing maturation of the F-35 integrated sensor suite, AF-3, an F-35A CTOL test jet, completed the first low Distributed Aperture System (DAS) approach on Jan. 17.
- On Jan. 18, the first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program was completed at Edwards AFB, Calif. Piloted by Lockheed Martin test pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A CTOL test jet, took off at 5:05 p.m. PST and landed after sunset at 6:22 p.m.
- With the ferry flight of BF-7, an F-35B STOVL, Eglin AFB, Fla., became home of the largest F-35 fleet in the DOD on Jan. 19. BF-7 was the 23rd F-35 Lightning II delivered to the DOD.
- On Jan. 20, citing the progress the F-35B STOVL variant made in 2011, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta rescinded probation for the F-35B, almost a full year ahead of schedule.
- The F-35 SDD fleet including AA-1, the original test aircraft, crossed the 2,500 flight hour threshold on Jan. 25.
- During a Media Briefing in Rome, Italy, Tom Burbage, Executive VP of Lockheed Martin and General Manager of F-35 Program Integration, said that the F-35C (Carrier Variant) was fixed with a new tailhook system that will be tested beginning next April, making arrested landing on aircraft carriers possible after the series of failed tests. “We will solve all issues” he said.
- On Jan. 30 the Associated Press reported that Australia is reviewing its purchaase schedule for 12 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.
- A BAC1-11 configured with the F-35′s AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the AN/AAQ-37 infrared distributed aperture system (DAS) has taken part to the Bold Alligator 2012 exercise.
- On Feb. 7 a UK Ministry of Defence spokeswoman announced that Britain will not make final decisions on the overall number of F-35 before the next planned Strategic Defence Review (in 2015).
- On Feb. 15, Italian Minister of Defense announced Italy’s plan to purchase 90 F-35s. The aircraft will be delivered to four Italian Air Force squadrons at Amendola and Ghedi, and one Navy squadron at Grottaglie (equipped with F-35B that will also operate from Cavour aircraft carrier).
- On Feb. 16 at Edwards AFB, Calif., AF-1, an F-35A CTOL test jet, flew the first external weapons test mission in program history.
- On Feb. 17 the Government of the Netherlands announced that the first F-35 designated for the RNlAF had its jet engine installed. The Netherlands has ordered two JSFs as test aircraft.
- On Feb. 19 the Canadian Press reported that Canadian Defense experts are considering a further upgrade to the aging RCAF F-18s (CF-188s in the local designation) to fill the gap until the delivery of the first F-35s, expected in 2016.
- On Feb. 21 Royal Air Force test pilot Squadron Leader Jim Schofield flew CF-2, the Carrier Variant of the F-35 that will be known as Joint Combat Aircraft in UK.
- On Feb. 22, six days after the first F-35A CTOL (Conventional Take Off and Landing) had flown with external stores, even the STOVL (Short Take Off and Vertical Landing) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, flew for the first time with external weapons.Noteworthy, along with the AIM-9X carried by the CTOL, the F-35B carried a never seen before white 25 mm gun pod on the centerline.
- On Feb. 23 Turkey confirmed its plan to buy 100 F-35s for 16 billion USD. “In the first stage, orders will be given for two F-35 planes. Turkey plans in total to buy 100 F-35 warplanes” the Minister of Defense said.
Cumulative flight test activity totals for 2012 through Feb. 20 are provided below:
- F-35A CTOL jets have flown 46 times.
- F-35B STOVL aircraft have completed 45 flights.
- F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) jets have flown 23 times.
From the start of flight testing in December 2006, F-35s have flown 1,704 times, including the production-model flights and AA-1, the original flight test aircraft.
Image credit: Locheed Martin
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- Photo: Lockheed Martin F-35′s first mission with external weapons (theaviationist.com)
- Italy buys its first three F-35s. With a shocking announcement: “a JSF will cost less than a Eurofighter Typhoon” (theaviationist.com)
- “The F-35 remains essential to the future of air superiority” Panetta says. And Lockheed Martin reassures: “we will solve all JSF problems.” (theaviationist.com)
- F-35B Finally on track? (theaviationist.com)
Alleged killing of two Indian fishermen in anti-piracy operation sparks diplomatic crisis between India and Italy February 19, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Italian Navy , 18commentsTwo Italian Navy riflemen belonging to the San Marco Battalion, are currently under custody in India pending the investigation about the alleged killing of two Indian fishermen 30 miles off the southern Indian coast on Feb. 15.
The two military were on board the merchant ship Enrica Lexie as Military Security Team on Italian ships in areas under threat of pirates. Although the episode is still under investigation, the Italian Navy explained in an official statement that at about 12.30PM Italian Time, the merchant ship was approached by a suspect vessel with armed sailors that did not respond to warning signs.
In compliance with the stardand procedures, the security team on board the Enrica Lexie fired three sets of warning shots for deterrence whose effect was to discourage the pirates. The alleged pirate boat departed from the Italian merchant ship without signs “of obvious onboard damages.”
However, two fishermen died and Indian authorities denied that any of the crew members of the “suspect” vessel was armed.
The Italian merchant ship was ordered to dock at the port of Kochi waiting for it to carry out the investigation.
Even though it’s still difficult to piece fact together, the episode happened in international waters, on an Italian ship, hence the jurisdiction must be Italian. Furthermore, the two military should be subject to absolute judicial immunity.
Then, there are a lot of inconsistencies between the Italian and Indian versions, to such an extent the fact that the two fisherman were killed in another shooting, involving another ship, can’t be ruled out.
For instance, Italians stated a total of 20 rounds in bursts of warning were shot, none of which hit the vessel, whereas the Indians affirmed that the fishing boat was hit by 60 shots . If so, however, as some sources have pointed out, the boat would suffer serious damage and could hardly reach the port.
Moreover, the Indian authorities have refused to show the bodies of the two killed fishermen nor to perform the autopsy.
Although, not as dangerous as the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin, where ships, helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft and drones contribute to the anti-piracy operations, the seas surrounding southern India have been the scene of an increasing number of pirate attacks.
Image credit: The Hindu Business Line
