Italy and the F-35

Shaping 21st Century Coalition-Enabled Airpower

De: Robbin Laird

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

This book highlights Italy's significant role in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The book details Italy's contributions to F-35 manufacturing and maintenance at the Cameri facility, highlighting its status as a key production and sustainment hub for European and allied partners. Furthermore, the book highlights the integration of the F-35B into the Italian Navy's ITS Cavour aircraft carrier and its implications for sea-based operations. Finally, the book discusses Italy's participation in multinational exercises, such as Pitch Black, showcasing its long-range deployment capabilities and commitment to international partnerships, and the development of advanced pilot training facilities.

The book is based on interviews in Italy, the United States and Australia conducted with Italian pilots and airpower leaders since 2013.

Each chapter is presented first in the original English and is then followed by a translation in Italian. The translation was a machine translation and can be considered only an approximate one but having a translation in Italian can help the Italian reader to better understand the English and can provide for a wider audience as well for the book.

As LT Gen (ret.) Pasquale Preziosa, Former Chief of Staff, Italian Air Force, noted in his foreword to the book: “Robbin’s extensive research and interviews—conducted across continents and institutions—bring authenticity and breadth to this book. He captures the essence of Italy’s “double transition,” as it modernizes legacy systems like the Eurofighter Typhoon while embracing the transformative potential of the F-35. Through detailed accounts of exercises like Pitch Black and the integration of platforms such as the KC-767A and E-550 CAEW, Robbin illustrates how Italy is leveraging its airpower capabilities to project influence and enhance NATO’s collective defense posture.

“This book is more than a chronicle of Italy’s airpower evolution; it is a blueprint for other nations navigating similar transitions. It highlights the importance of embracing new technologies, fostering interoperability, and investing in training and sustainment to address the security challenges of an increasingly complex world. As such, it is an invaluable resource for military professionals, policymakers, and defense analysts alike.”