Italy Selects Sicily for First Multinational F-35 Training Hub Outside the US

2026-01-08 global

Trapani, Thursday, 8 January 2026.
Italy has officially approved the creation of the world’s first multinational F-35 pilot training center outside the United States. Located at Sicily’s Trapani-Birgi Air Base, this €112.6 million strategic initiative partners Lockheed Martin with Leonardo to decentralize pilot instruction and bolster NATO’s European defense capabilities.

Strategic Decentralization of Pilot Instruction

The designation of Trapani-Birgi as the site for this facility marks a pivotal shift in the global logistics of the Joint Strike Fighter program. The base will function as Italy’s third Main Operating Base (MOB) for the F-35 fleet, joining existing hubs at Amendola and Ghedi [1][3]. The project envisions a complex ecosystem composed of three distinct operational levels: a national Operational Flight Group (ITAF OPS Squadron), an International Training Flight Group (PTC Squadron) dedicated to allied pilots, and the Lightning Training Center (LTC) [3][7]. This infrastructure is explicitly designed to serve as a “twin structure” to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, which has effectively monopolized F-35 pilot training until now [7]. By establishing this capability in Sicily, the program aims to alleviate capacity bottlenecks in the United States while rooting critical defense infrastructure within the European theater [1].

Operational Timelines and Deadlines

The Ministry of Defense has established an aggressive timeline for the center’s activation, driven by the urgent need to accommodate incoming European orders for the jet [1][8]. Construction is slated to begin in early 2026, with the primary objective of achieving initial training capacity—specifically ground training—by December 2028 [1][7]. The full completion of the Lightning Training Center, which includes the construction of a dedicated building and the installation of two Full Mission Simulators, is strictly scheduled for July 1, 2029 [2][3]. This schedule requires the facility to meet stringent standards outlined in the “F-35 Lightning II Facilities Requirements Document,” overseen by the U.S. Department of Defense under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) [5].

Financial Commitments and Industrial Alliances

The Italian government is fully financing the €112.6 million initiative, with the budget allocation structured to ramp up significantly as the project nears completion [1][3]. For the current fiscal year of 2026, €8.2 million has been allocated, followed by €17.1 million in 2027 [3]. The financial commitment peaks in the final two years, with €40.2 million designated for 2028 and €47.1 million for 2029 [3]. This means that approximately 41.829% of the total budget will be deployed in the final year alone to ensure the facility meets its operational deadlines. The execution of this program has been entrusted to a temporary business grouping formed by Lockheed Martin and Leonardo [3].

Strengthening the Southern Flank

The selection of Trapani-Birgi is strategic, leveraging its position on NATO’s southern flank to serve the growing number of European nations procuring the fifth-generation fighter [1][2]. The facility will operate under maximum security protocols, including the construction of a Special Access Program Facility (SAPF) to safeguard sensitive technology [4][7]. While the base currently houses the 37th Wing equipped with Eurofighter Typhoons, the integration of the F-35 training center represents a significant capability leap for the site [2]. Despite this militarization, authorities have confirmed that the F-35 operations will not interfere with civil aviation traffic, such as Ryanair flights; conversely, the project includes runway refurbishments expected to benefit commercial operations at the dual-use airport [7].

Sources

Defense Aerospace