The first F-35B STOVL (Light Take-Off / Vertical Landing) Lightning II aircraft assembled outside the United States was delivered to the Italian Ministry of Defense and then assigned to the Italian Navy at the FACO plant (Final Assembly and Check Out ) of Cameri.
The event is the result of a solid collaboration between the Italian Ministry of Defense, the industrial partner Leonardo and Lockheed Martin. The Italian FACO is managed by Leonardo in collaboration with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics through a team of more than 800 qualified professionals, involved in the assembly of the F-35A variants, conventional takeoff and landing, and F-35B STOVL and in the production of wings for 'F-35A.
General Claudio Graziano, Chief of Staff of the Italian Defense, Admiral Valter Girardelli, Chief of Staff of the Navy, General Francesco Langella, Director of the Aeronautical Armaments Directorate (ARMAEREO), the Air Documentary Docherty of the F -35 Joint Program Office, Filippo Bagnato, manager of Leonardo's Aircraft Division, and Doug Wilhelm, Lockheed Martin vice president, F-35 Program Management, attended the ceremony.
"The production of the first F-35B model, the most complex variant from the technological point of view, at the Italian FACO is a clear demonstration of the excellent capabilities and quality of the Italian aerospace industry"Commented Wilhelm. "Camaro's FACO confirms itself as a center of excellence for F-35 in Europe."
To date, nine F-35As and one F-35B have been delivered by FACO di Cameri, the only production site for the F-35B located outside the USA; four of these aircraft are currently at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, for the international pilot training program, and five are at Amendola.
The FACO of Cameri also plans to produce 29 F-35A for the Dutch Air Force (RNLAF) and has the ability to meet the demands of other European partners in the future.
The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth generation fighter that combines the most advanced low observability stealth technology with the speed and agility of maneuver typical of fighters, the sensor fusion for more efficient information acquisition and management , network operational capabilities and advanced support functions. Three different F-35 models will replace several US Air Force A-10 and F-16 aircraft, the US Navy's F / A-18, the Marines' F / A-18s and AV-8B Harriers and aircraft from at least 11 other nations. 265 F-35s have been built and delivered around the world and to date more than 550 qualified pilots have clocked up more than 120.000 flight hours.
Lockheed Martin release
