Italy to Host First International F-35 Training School Outside the US

The Trapani-Birgi Air Base, western Sicily, will become the first international training center for F-35 pilots outside the United States. The decision was officially confirmed in recent days by Nino Minardo, chairman of the Defense Committee of the Italian Parliament. The project foresees the creation of a facility mirroring Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, currently the main hub for F-35 pilot training.

Trapani is home to the Italian Air Force’s 37th Wing, currently operating Eurofighter Typhoons, and in the coming years it will host new infrastructures specifically dedicated to F-35 training. According to official statements, construction work is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and to be completed by spring 2028, when the base will become fully operational as a training hub.

This initiative fits into Italy’s broader participation in the F-35 program. Italy already plays a key role through the Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) line at Cameri (Piedmont), where F-35s are produced and maintained not only for the Italian Air Force and Navy but also for international partners. With the opening of the Trapani training school, Italy will consolidate its position by adding a major capability in the field of pilot training.

The new center will not only train Italian pilots but will also host allied aircrews from nations operating the F-35. The aim is to ensure greater standardization in operational procedures and to enhance interoperability among NATO air forces. Italy will thus provide an international center of excellence capable of contributing both to national operational readiness and to that of its allies.