From Piedmont to Sicily, here is where the US F35 speaks (or will speak) Italian

The F35, the fifth-generation multi-role fighter produced by Lockheed Martin, a leading US defence and aerospace company, is increasingly speaking Italian. The Sicily will be the first place outside the United States "where F-35 pilots will be trained," announced Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, who together with President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, attended the International Flight Training School at the Decimomannu air base, a few kilometres from Cagliari, at the ceremony of handing over the eagles to 16 pilots who have just completed phase 1 of their training course.

Italy is also one of two countries in the world (the other is Japan), outside the USA, where the F-35s are assembled. The FACO (Final Assembly and Check Out) in Cameri, Piedmont, managed by Leonardo, produces all the F-35A (CTOL) and F-35 (STOVL-Short Take Off and Vertical Landing) aircraft destined for the Air Force and Navy, respectively, and all the aircraft ordered by the Netherlands. In late 2014, the Italian plant was chosen by the US Department of Defence as the main centre for Europe for all F-35 Heavy Airframe Maintenance Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) activities.

The Multi-Annual Planning Document (MOPD) for the period 2024-2026 envisages the acquisition of a further 25 F35 aircraft and the related engines, equipment, periodic upgrades and logistic support until the foreseeable year 2035, bringing the national fleet to a total of 115 aircraft. The additional 25 machines are divided into 15 F-35A and 10 F-35B, of which those in the so-called Conventional Take-Off Landing (CTOL) version are destined for the Air Force, while of the STOVL (Short Take-Off Vertical Landing) version, five are destined for the same Armed Force and five for the Navy. The requirements of the operation amount to EUR 7 billion.