Free Republic

Italy seems certain to scale back its major investment in Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, heightening uncertainty over the troubled stealth jet's future. Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola has said repeatedly since January that the country's originally planned order of the 131 supersonic warplanes by 2018 was being "reviewed" because military spending cuts were necessary as part of Prime Minister Mario Monti's austerity plan to shore up public accounts. General Claudio Debertolis, secretary general of the Defence Ministry and the country's armaments chief, confirmed to lawmakers on Tuesday that cuts were expected. "There will be a revision of...

The first of four Boeing KC767-A tanker aircraft have been delivered to the Italian air force. The handover took place at the Pratica di Mare Air Base south of Rome, where the aircraft flew in from Boeing's facility in Kansas, an Italian air force statement said. Before entering service, the aircraft will "undergo a series of tests and activities," the statement said. The Italy KC-767 tanker transport offers superior range, payload and offload capability, and will provide exceptional operational flexibility, military experts say. The advanced aerial refueling boom is designed for interoperability within the NATO military alliance.

With most companies on Christmas break between Christmas and New Year, it was a welcome surprise to learn that Alenia Aeronautica was busy completing their final aircraft deliveries for the year, exceeding the total planned for 2010. These last deliveries came in the form of five Eurofighter Typhoon jets that were handed over to the Italian customer on one day. On the 28th December 2010, Eurofighter Partner Company Alenia Aeronautica signed over IS037, IS039, IS040, IS041, IT011 to the Italian Air Force, bringing the total number of deliveries for the programme in 2010 to 51 – far higher than had...

Israeli Air Force sends number of squadrons from Nevatim, Tel Nof bases including F15, F16; Italians use Euro-fighter Typhoon.Refused permission to fly in Turkish airspace, the Israeli Air Force continued to create alliances with additional air forces in the region, wrapping up a two-week exercise with the Italian Air Force on Friday on the island of Sardinia. A number of squadrons of F-15 and F-16 fighter jets from the IAF’s Nevatim and Tel Nof bases participated in the maneuvers, which focused on low-altitude flights, dogfights and longrange interception. Air force sources said the teams were allowed to fly over a...

The Squadron (X stands for 10th in Roman numerals), is the heir of World War I ace Francesco Baracca, from whom they have adopted the black "prancing horse" emblem. Previously equipped with F-16 fighters and based to Trapani, in Sicily, the Gruppo has now moved to Gioia del Colle, joining the XII Gruppo of the 36° Stormo (Air Wing) which is already flying the European fighter. With the introduction of the Typhoon to X Gruppo, there are now 15 units equipped with Eurofighters across 6 air forces in Europe and the Middle East. With over 225 aircraft in service and...

Representatives from the Italian air force and navy visited the 33rd Fighter Wing recently in an effort to check the progress of the first F-35 integrated training center and learn more about this new coalition venture. Things are moving, and this program is becoming real," said Rear Admiral Paolo Treu, director of Naval Aviation Department and commander of the Italian Fleet Air Arm. "I'm grateful to Eglin for giving us this opportunity. A lot of work has been done. A lot of work has to be done." Italy is one of several partner nations that will be training Joint Strike...

Italian air force launches Storm Shadow trials By Luca Peruzzi Four long-range missiles to be released during eight-week campaign in South Africa Three of the Italian air force's modernised Panavia Tornado interdictor strike aircraft will leave Ghedi air base near Brescia next week to participate in a service evaluation trial of MBDA's Storm Shadow cruise missile at South Africa's Overberg test range. "During the eight-week deployment, crews and personnel belonging to the air force test wing and the 6th Wing at Ghedi will launch four operational missiles equipped with telemetry packages instead of warheads," says Lt Col Renato Feliciani, team...