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.
The Air Force is putting emphasis on operations and maintenance and research and development. The Army and Navy want to go on a buying spree. The Space Force budget is approaching and may yet surpass the Marine Corps. And non-service “Defense-Wide” funding got the biggest bump of all.