AIR International – June 2018

ITALIAN F-35A LIGHTNING II MILITARY

http://www.airinternational.com | 49

During the four-month programme, a pilot
will complete around 50 training events,
which means a substantial amount of time
spent in the simulator and flying missions.
An F-35-specific compound at Amendola
contains two full-mission simulators, which
were delivered in November 2017. These can
operate individually or can be linked to stage
a two-ship simulated mission. Simulators are
indispensable not only to optimise the training
of the pilots, but also to explore the capability
and possibilities of the weapon system.
Next year, the base will receive another two
simulators, its intended number.
Italy’s current advanced training programme
in place for F-35 pilots was developed for the
most part by exploiting experience gained
from 15 years of F-2000 operations, with an
emphasis placed on continuity. However,
that’s only the current programme, which
can never remain the same for long and will
continuously evolve by exploring and evolving
the training processes involved in tandem with
operational experience.
In the future, the F-35 force will gain live
virtual constructive capacity, a training systems
that offers real-time virtual connectivity
between aircraft in flight and simulators. The
majority of training can never be all virtual and
in terms of real flying hours Colonel Marzinotto
confirmed to AIR International that the
availability of flying hours completely satisfies
the requirements of the unit.
Current daily flight operations undertaken
by 13° Gruppo include missions flown in
nearby areas of airspace and others all over
Italy, that exploit the aircraft’s excellent
endurance, even without aerial refuelling. For
some time, Aeronautica Militare F-35s have
undertaken not only autonomous training,
but also cooperative training, most notably
with the E-550 Conformal Airborne Early
Warning aircraft (a highly modified Gulfstream
G550 business jet) and also with other aircraft
operated by different air arms. This latter
type of training is exploring the possibilities
of the F-35 and its capability to be a force
multiplier when used in conjunction with
other platforms.

By October 2017, 13° Gruppo had

participated in Exercise Joint Star, an inter-

service training event, followed by Exercise

Star Vega 2018 in May. Another forthcoming

event for 13° Gruppo is the NATO Tactical

Leadership Programme (TLP) headquartered

and usually staged from Albacete Air Base,

Spain. In November, the first TLP course

featuring fifth-generation aircraft (F-35s) will

be staged at Amendola and involve various

allied aircraft.

The F-35’s current capability is impressive.

Only those who fly the aircraft have an

idea of what it can do, how it can do it and

how it has started to change the way air

operations are conducted. Nevertheless,

the F-35 Lightning II remains in operational

testing, which involves not just the aircraft

itself, but also its capabilities across the wide

spectrum of missions it has been designed

to undertake.

The future of Amendola Air Base has been

clearly defined for some time. The base is

in a period of major redevelopment and

transformation, with capacity for further

growth and additional potential that touches

all of its units in some way.

The new F-35 compound, constructed on

the eastern side of the base, is separated from

the rest of the base by an additional fence.

It’s an impressive facility and equivalent to

those built on US bases where the F-35 is

based. Besides a large block that houses the

simulators and offices, the compound also

includes a large maintenance hangar and

two rows of 15 of the latest generation soft

shelters. All buildings and infrastructure are

brand new, built to the required specification,

safety and security standards for the F-35

Lightning II.

From an operational point of view, the

resident 32° Stormo currently comprises

three flying squadrons: 13° Gruppo equipped

with the F-35A, and two operating MQ-1C

Predators and MQ-9A Reapers; 28° Gruppo at

Amendola; and 61° Gruppo, recently activated

at Sigonella. The base and 32° Stormo

are both ready to stand up the next F-35

squadron, further implementing the future of

Italian air power. AI

BELOW: Close-up front

view of an F-35A with the

nose-mounted window of

the AAQ-40 Electro-Optical

Targeting System.

FAR LEFT: This shot shows the

squadron, wing and national

insignia of an Italian F-35A.

ABOVE: A 13° Gruppo pilot signs paperwork for the

crew chief after a mission. His flying suite - like the

helmet - is specifically designed for the F-35.