The new facility in Trapani-Bilgi will make the Sicilian base the third F-35 operations center in Italy, as well as a future multinational training center for NATO and partner nations.
The Italian Ministry of Defense has officially approved the establishment of a new F-35 Lightning II training center at Trapani-Birgi Air Base, authorizing an investment of 112.6 million euros to turn the training base in Sicily into the country's third fifth-generation fighter operating base. The other two are Amendola and Gedi air bases, home to the Italian Air Force's 32nd Wing and 6th Wing respectively.
According to Italian state news agency ANSA, the project will establish a so-called Lightning training center dedicated to training F-35 pilots and will be open not only to Italian forces, but also to NATO and European partner countries participating in the Joint Strike Fighter program. Once operational, Trapani will be the first F-35 pilot training center outside the United States.
The initiative is part of the wider JSF framework and foresees the establishment of two flying units in Trapani: a national combat unit and an international training unit, as well as a shared training and support centre.
The first phase of the plan was described as a priority that includes the construction of a dedicated ground training building, a special access program facility, two full-mission simulators and space set aside for additional pilot training equipment in the future. According to ANSA, the Lightning Training Center building is scheduled to be completed on July 1, 2029, and is expected to have initial operational capability (IOC) in December 2028.
The project will be implemented by a joint venture leonardo and Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin will provide the simulators and advanced training systems, while Leonardo will be responsible for the US regulations and security protocols governing the F-35 program.
Construction is expected to begin later this year and will take place over five years. Spending will gradually increase, reaching a peak of over €47 million in 2029.
as aeronaut have reported beforeTrapani-Bilgi has long been considered a strong candidate for an expanded F-35 role, given its strategic location in the middle of the Mediterranean and existing infrastructure to support advanced air operations. In previous coverage, we highlighted how Italy is steadily consolidating its position in the F-35 enterprise, not only as an operator but also as a key industrial and maintenance hub, thanks in part to Cameri's Final Assembly and Checkout (FACO) facility.
The decision to establish an international F-35 pilot training center in Italy is fully consistent with this strategy, reinforcing the country’s role as a reference point for Allied air forces in the transition to fifth-generation capabilities. It also aligns with Rome's broader ambition to leverage the F-35 program to deliver long-term industrial, technology and employment returns.
At the same time, the ANSA report noted that the project has sparked controversy at the local level, with criticism focusing on the increasing militarization of the region. Despite these concerns, the Ministry of Defense appears committed to moving forward, viewing the investment as a strategic and economic opportunity associated with Italy's participation in one of the most complex and far-reaching defense programs in the world.
This is what we wrote in our most recent article published in September 2025:
The choice of Trapani is particularly interesting: the airport in northwest Sicily is a combined civil and military airport and is currently home to the Italian Air Force's 37° Storm Wing, equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. This means that the twin international F-35 schools at Luke AFB will share runways and infrastructure with civilian airports, which is very unique.
Back in 2023, in Media briefing hosted by Lockheed Martin At an event celebrating the Italian Air Force’s centenary in Rome, European CEO Jonathan Hoyle and Vice President of Global Procurement Randy Howard revealed that the Italian Air Force plans to add a third F-35 base in Sardinia in addition to Gedi and Amendola: Decimomannu.
In fact, a display panel located next to the Lightning model on display at the Air Force Experience hints at Desi's new base. As we reported at the time, the “Fast Facts” committee wrote the words “Base of the Future” on Decimomanu Air Force Base. It's unclear whether Italy still plans to build a third base there; it's now official that an F-35 school will be established in Trapani, and the airport may soon be ready to house the fifth-generation aircraft and its dedicated training facilities.
Now approved, Trapani-Bilgi will play a central role in the next phase of European and allied F-35 operations, extending Italy's footprint in the Lightning II ecosystem beyond its national borders.
