On Feb. 17 an Italian Air Force Gulfstream E.550 CAEW (reg. MM62292) was based in Constanta, Romania, after it operated surveillance missions mainly (but not only) in the Black Sea theater.
On April 4, after about two months then, the CAEW returned to Italy.
The Italian presence did not diminish, however, because on April 13 another CAEW (reg. MM62303) landed in turn in Constanta where it operated for the first time yesterday (or at least for the first time with the ADS-B transponder on).
This aircraft had left Italy on December 16 for Appleton in the USA where it remained until March 23 when it returned to Italy. It is possible that it went to the USA for some maintenance/upgrading.
The Gulfstream G550 CAEW is a multi-sensor early warning and control aircraft with air surveillance, command, control and communication functions that is instrumental in air supremacy and support for ground forces. The Italian Air Force acquired two Gulfstream G550 CAEW aircraft in 2012 with an agreement worth $750 million that also includes equipment. According to Israeli press sources, the Italian Ministry of Defense has signed contracts with Israeli Aerospace Industries (Elta Systems) worth about $550 million for the supply of an additional pair of Gulfstream 550 CAEW early warning and control aircraft.
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