Italy has formally announced an air force base in Sicily is to become the first F-35 training school outside the United States, reflecting a growth in demand for pilot training after fresh orders of the jet in Europe.
The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and constructor Lockheed Martin will oversee the readying of the training center at Trapani-Birgi Air Base, with initial ground training to be offered by December 2028 and the completion of a “Lightning Training Centre” by July 2029, the Italian defense ministry said.
