Italy is set to invest €112.6 million to establish a multinational F-35 pilot training center at Trapani-Birgi Air Base, becoming the first dedicated F-35 training facility outside the United States.
On January 7, 2026, La Sicilia reported that Italy’s Ministry of Defense has approved €112.6 million to establish a multinational F-35 Lightning II pilot training center at Trapani-Birgi Air Base in Sicily. This facility will be the first dedicated F-35 training center outside the United States and will serve as Italy’s third operational F-35 base, while also hosting international training for NATO and European Joint Strike Fighter partner nations. Initial training is planned for 2028, with full operational capability expected in 2029.
The funding officially transforms Trapani-Birgi into a dual-role installation: a fully operational base for the Italian Air Force and an international training hub for F-35 pilots. Known as the Lightning Training Center, the facility addresses the growing European F-35 fleets and the limited availability of existing training capacity, which is currently centered almost entirely in the United States.
By hosting the center, Italy positions itself as a permanent European hub in the global F-35 training network. Trapani-Birgi joins Amendola and Ghedi as Italy’s third operational F-35 base, complementing the Italian Air Force’s 32nd and 6th Wings. The base will accommodate one Italian operational squadron and one international training squadron, both supported by shared infrastructure. This setup allows Trapani-Birgi to function simultaneously as a main operating base and as a multinational school, hosting foreign pilots, instructors, and aircraft for training.
The project timeline sets two key milestones. Initial training capability is expected by December 2028, allowing pilots to begin instruction before the facility is fully completed. Full construction and operational capability are scheduled for July 1, 2029. Work will start in 2026 and continue over five years, with most investment concentrated toward the end of the decade as the core training infrastructure, simulators, and secure systems are installed.
The first implementation phase focuses on constructing essential facilities to train F-35 pilots under strict security measures. This includes a dedicated training building with a Special Access Program Facility to handle sensitive systems and information, and two Full Mission Simulators that replicate real cockpit, sensors, weapons, and battlefield conditions. Additional space is reserved for future training devices as demand grows. The phased structure allows the center to start with limited capability and gradually expand to include full international and national squadrons.
Trapani-Birgi was chosen for its geography and operational experience. The base is a joint civil and military airfield in northwestern Sicily, currently hosting the Italian Air Force’s 37th Wing flying Eurofighter Typhoons. Its location in the central Mediterranean offers strategic access to southern Europe and the wider theater, while its existing infrastructure can be adapted for fifth-generation aircraft and secure training facilities. Other bases were considered, but Trapani was confirmed as the definitive site for the international F-35 training mission.
The center will teach pilots how to operate the F-35 in routine and complex combat scenarios using a combination of real flight hours and advanced simulation. Full Mission Simulators allow trainees to practice scenarios that would be difficult, risky, or costly in real aircraft, including networked operations, electronic warfare, and coordination with other forces. Secure facilities are critical for using classified software, mission systems, and operational methods during training.
Beyond individual pilot qualification, the center will enable multinational collaboration. Pilots from different air forces will learn standardized procedures, planning methods, and tactics, facilitating interoperability during NATO missions and joint operations. The Lightning Training Center reduces the need for European pilots to travel to the United States for extended training periods and shortens overall timelines. It is intended as a European counterpart to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, strengthening Italy’s position across F-35 operations, training, and sustainment, alongside its existing assembly and maintenance facilities at Cameri.
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