Italy has officially announced that its Trapani-Birgi Air Base in Sicily will become the first F-35 training school outside the United States, responding to growing demand for pilot training following new European orders of the aircraft. The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and Lockheed Martin will oversee the development of the facility, with initial ground training set to begin by December 2028 and the completion of the “Lightning Training Centre” expected by July 2029, according to the Italian Defense Ministry.

The €112.6 million ($131.4 million) project, funded by Italian taxpayers, will include two full mission simulators. Trapani-Birgi will also become Italy’s third F-35 base, hosting one squadron of Italian jets and one for international students, alongside existing bases at Amendola and Ghedi. The ministry stated that the new school addresses the increasing training needs driven by NATO and European participation in the F-35 program. It emphasized Italy’s strong political commitment to strengthening its strategic role, highlighting that Trapani will be the first F-35 Pilot Training Center outside the U.S.

Italian defense firm Leonardo was selected by Lockheed Martin to co-develop the school, building on their partnership in the F-35 Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Upgrade (MRO&U) hub at Cameri Air Base in northern Italy. Cameri handles final assembly and maintenance for Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, and even U.K.-based F-35s. The new school also builds on Italy’s expanding international pilot training efforts. The Italian Air Force’s training school at Decimomannu in Sardinia operates 22 M-346 jets with 40 instructors and has trained pilots from countries including Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, the U.K., and Saudi Arabia.