Milestone

Italy's first two operational F-35A arrive at Amendola

December 12, 2016

The first two F-35A assigned to an Italian operational unit landed at Amendola air base in Apulia, for the 13th Gruppo of the 32nd Stormo. With them Italy became the first country outside the United States to operate the Lightning II from a base of its own. The aircraft came from the Cameri assembly line rather than from Fort Worth.

Sources: The Aviationist — Here are the photographs of the first operational F-35A outside of the U.S. landing at their new base