The US decision to use the Cameri Air Force base as the only European site to ensure the support of the F-35 aircraft is of great importance for our country and will allow us to make the most of the investments already made for FACO in industrial infrastructures and equipment.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Defense, Roberta Pinotti, at the end of a meeting held with the US ambassador in Rome, John R. Phillips, at Palazzo Baracchini.
“It is an extraordinary result” - declared the minister - “which rewards the credibility of our country, the action of our government and recognizes national technological capabilities”.
The choice of Cameri will lead to the materialization of enormous repercussions for Italy. The F35 will in fact remain in operation for 30 years with periodic reviews. Italy, in the project started in 1998, decided to be a non-purchaser partner.
Today he did it.
“We have shown that we are a credible country. Parliament told us that we need to move forward with the program with a smaller financial impact, and therefore have greater economic repercussions. Today's result tells us just that ”.
The Cameri plant was conceived from the outset to house both the production (FACO) and maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO & U-Maintenance Repair Overhaul & Upgrade) activities of the F-35 aircraft.
“It is a strongly desired industrial success of the Defense - concluded the minister - in the face of a very strong international competition we have managed to obtain maintenance for Europe and for the US aircraft that will be deployed on our continent. At full capacity, the Faco di Cameri will significantly increase the number of people directly involved and approximately 90 small and medium-sized Italian companies will be involved in this project, one of the most advanced in the world ”.
Source: Ministry of Defense
(photo: archive)
