Italy became the first non-US country to receive operational F-35 Lightning IIs on Dec. 12, according to IHS Jane’s. The two F-35As were delivered to the 32nd Wing at Amendola Air Force Base, where they will be part of the newly created 13 Squadron. Italy is the only F-35 partner nation besides Japan to have its own Final Assembly and Check Out facility, which is located at Cameri. Italy has ordered a total of 60 F-35As and 30 F-35Bs. The last aircraft is scheduled to be delivered by 2027.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.