As part of its fleet modernization process, the Italian Air Force is moving forward with the replacement of its aging Panavia Tornado jets with the new Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighters, thus consolidating a qualitative leap in its air capabilities. This transition was reflected in the recent ceremony held at Ghedi Air Base, home of the 6th Wing “Alfredo Fusco,” a key tactical unit of the Aeronautica Militare. During the event, the 154th Flight Group “Diavoli Rossi” officially joined the F-35A line, marking a milestone in the history of Italian military aviation and projecting the squadron into a new operational stage.
The ceremony, led by Major General Marco Lant, Commander of the Comando Forze da Combattimento, formalized the transfer of personnel and equipment from the 154th Flight Group to the new platform. According to General Lant, this change is not merely an aircraft replacement, but rather a bridge between a glorious past and a challenging technological future, which demands the acquisition of new skills and adaptation to operational methods typical of the 5th generation. The transition includes not only the incorporation of the F-35A, but also the designation of the 6th Wing as the Main Operating Base of the Joint Strike Fighter in Italy, with a priority role in national air defense and integration into multinational operations.
Despite the modernization, the 6th Wing will continue to operate with a mixed structure for the time being, as the multirole capabilities of the Tornado will remain active in the 155th Flight Group “Black Panthers” (Pantere Nere) until the end of the service life of these veteran third-generation fighter-bombers. The 154th Flight Group, protagonist of this transition, was the first Italian unit to receive the Panavia Tornado in 1982, having since participated in numerous international operations. Among them, its intervention in the First Gulf War in 1991 stands out, where the Tornado IDS carried out attacks on airfields and air bases in Iraq.
The Panavia Tornado IDS represented a significant technological advance in its time, being equipped with variable-sweep wings that allow the wingspan to be modified between 13.91 meters (with 25° sweep angle) and 8.60 meters (with 67° sweep angle), granting them great versatility to operate in various mission profiles. Powered by two Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk.103 engines, they reach a maximum speed of 2,418 km/h (Mach 2.34). Currently, the Aeronautica Militare has 58 units of the IDS variant in service, while the Tornado ADV air superiority variant was retired in 2004 after almost two decades of activity.
In recognition of the Tornado’s four decades of service, the 154th Flight Group unveiled a special livery in historic red and black colors, symbolizing the fusion between the Tornado’s legacy and the arrival of the new generation of stealth fighters. The design features the silhouettes of both aircraft merging into a single figure, with the emblem of the “Red Devil” (Diavolo Rosso) and the “Arrow of the 154th” (Freccia del 154°), alongside the trail of the “Rising Sun,” a symbol adopted by the unit during the First Gulf War and associated with the motto “BANZAI – in a dive toward the target.”
As part of this technological renewal, the Aeronautica Militare is also advancing in strengthening its air combat capability with next-generation weaponry. In this regard, the United States government recently authorized a sale of AMRAAM air-to-air missiles valued at an estimated 211 million dollars. The operation, notified by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), includes the provision of 30 AIM-120D-3 missiles—the most advanced variant, offered only to strategic U.S. allies—and 40 AIM-120C-8 missiles, the most modern version approved for export. This acquisition will enable the Italian F-35As to be equipped with cutting-edge air-to-air combat capabilities, reinforcing their role in national air defense.
With this transition, the Italian Air Force positions itself to face the challenges of an increasingly complex strategic environment, where air superiority requires stealth platforms, advanced sensors, and precision weaponry. The 6th Wing, under the Comando Forze da Combattimento and the 1st Air Region of Milan, will continue to play a central role in national defense and joint international operations, operating both the F-35A Lightning II and the Tornado IDS until the latter’s definitive retirement.
*Image credits: Italian Air Force
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