Italy accepts first F-35

[Zarvan]

facility outside the US. Source: Thinh Nguyen, Lockheed Martin
Key Points

• Italy has received its first F-35
• Rome has a requirement for 60 F-35As and 30 F-35Bs

The Italian Air Force received its first of a planned 90 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter on 3 December, the Pentagon's Joint Program Office announced.

The handover of the F-35A - the first to be built outside the US - took place at Italy's Cameri Air Base, where the country's F-35s are being assembled. The aircraft will now be flown to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where Italian pilots are already training with the US Air Force.

The Italian government-owned Cameri final assembly and check out (FACO) line is jointly operated by Alenia Aermacchi and Lockheed Martin. The FACO line at Cameri is the only F-35 assembly plant outside the US. Production at Cameri began in July 2013. In addition to building conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A and short take-off and landing (STOVL) F-35B aircraft for Italy, the FACO will also produce F-35As for the Netherlands.

Italy has a requirement for 60 F-35As and 30 F-35Bs to replace its Panavia Tornado, AMX, and McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, while the Netherlands has a requirement for 37 F-35As to replace its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet.

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Italy accepts first F-35 | IHS Jane's 360

 

[Blue Marlin]

@waz merge please