The Aeronautica Militare Italiana is trading in one Lockheed Martin fighter for another as it retires its last F-104 Starfighters and begins operating F-16 Fighting Falcons. The transition began in earnest for the Italian Air Force in March 2001 when the government of Italy leased thirty-four F-16s-thirty single-seat Block 15 F-16s and four Block 10 two-seat trainers-from the US Air Force inventory. The lease schedule is five years, with an option for another five years.
Prior to delivery, the aircraft were transferred from the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, to the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah. The aircraft were brought up to date with all required inspections and changes at Ogden, where they also underwent the Falcon UP structural upgrade program. In addition, Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 engines were upgraded to the F100-PW-220E configuration.
The Peace Caesar F-16 lease program accommodates the Italian Air Force's near-term requirement for a potent air defense fighter. The F-16s replace the Tornado F.3 air defense variant leased from the United Kingdom, as well as the Starfighters. The newly gained F-16s equip two fighter wings. The aircraft are a stopgap fighter force until the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet reaches operational status for Italy in 2010 and steps into the air defense role.
FOCUS ON TRAPANI
Trapani-Birgi AB on the island of Sicily functions as the main operating base for the Italian F-16 fleet. The aircraft are operated by the 37th Wing, called Stormo in Italian, and its two flying squadrons, the 18th and 10th Gruppo. Italy's second F-16 wing is 5 Stormo at Cervia AB north of Rimini on the Adriatic coast.
The first jets arrived at their new Sicilian home base from Ogden in June 2003. The arrival culminated two years of preparation at Trapani. “This base has seen a complete realignment towards our new aircraft,” says Col. Roberto Cattaneo, commander of 37 Stormo at Trapani. “We changed the wing organization, modernized the base infrastructure, and adapted our operations to the new jets. We prepared so we could start flying right after the first jets arrived. We have been building our operations continuously ever since.”
The infrastructure improvements at Trapani were conducted mindful of the eventual arrival of the Eurofighter Typhoon. Prior to the arrival of the first F-16, an initial group of four pilots underwent pilot training with the 162nd Fighter Group, the Arizona Air National Guard unit at Tucson. The students came from both 37 Stormo and 5 Stormo. Approximately 120 F-104 technicians from both wings trained on the F-16 at the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas. After the first contingent of Italian F-16 pilots and technicians returned to Sicily, a ceremony was held at Trapani in July 2003 to accept the first jets. All thirty-four Peace Caesar Falcons were delivered to Trapani in six delivery cells. The last four aircraft arrived at the Sicilian base in November 2004.
“Our biggest challenge was to generate an operational capability as soon as the aircraft started to arrive,” continues Cattaneo. “We had 23 Gruppo flying F-16s here and most of 18 Gruppo converting at Tucson. We were accepting aircraft on a frequent basis. At the same time, we were preparing the organizational structure at the base for the new aircraft.”
To support the AMI, Lockheed Martin was contracted to provide spares, technical support, and training. The company fields two teams of contractor logistics support technicians, one at each of the Italian F-16 bases. Forty technicians are located at Trapani and twenty-five at Cervia. As the Italian technicians become more experienced with F-16 maintenance, they will take on increased responsibilities and become less dependent on contractor support.
STARFIGHTER MEMORIES
Interestingly, the fighter mission at Trapani does not begin at Trapani itself, but at Gioia del Colle AB near Bari in southern Italy. A fighter element called Nucleo Operativo Difesa Aerea (Operational Air Defense Nucleus) was formed in 1983 with F-104S Starfighters. The unit was transferred to Sicily to be inserted in 37 Stormo at Trapani in October 1984 and established as 18 Gruppo. This squadron, officially identified as 18O Gruppo Caccia Intercettori Ognitempo (all-weather fighter-interceptor squadron), operated the earlier F-104G model from 1974 to 1977 at Villafranca AB near Verona in northern Italy. After being reestablished at Trapani, 18 Gruppo subsequently converted to more sophisticated models of the F-104 before bidding farewell to the venerable Starfighter in May 2003.
No air force in the world has a longer association with the F-104 than the Italian Air Force. The F-104G Starfighter entered service in Italy when the first aircraft was delivered in 1963 to 4 Stormo at Grossetto AB. In the ensuing years, the Italians received 153 F-104Gs, among them twenty-eight TF-104G two-seat aircraft. Most of the F-104Gs were produced by Fiat in Turin. The main role of the F-104 was as interceptor, although the jet also served in the ground attack and reconnaissance roles.
Among the units operating the highly upgraded F-104S ASA-M-the ultimate Starfighter variant-was 18 Gruppo at Trapani, until the F-16 conversion was initiated in spring 2003. In the ensuing year, the last remaining Starfighters, operated by 9 Stormo at Grazzanise AB, were all withdrawn from service. The last operational Starfighter mission was carried from Grazzanise by 9 Stormo on 31 October 2004. With that final flight, the operational career of one of the world's greatest interceptors concluded after more than four decades.
SQUADRON TRANSFORMATIONS
Even though Trapani is the main operating base for the Italian F-16s, the first squadron to transition to the Fighting Falcon was 23 Gruppo from 5 Stormo at Cervia. However, the Cervia-based squadron stayed at Trapani initially while the infrastructure at Cervia was modified. The squadron reached operational status in January 2004, when it picked up quick reaction alert duties at its home base.
Next to convert was Trapani's 18 Gruppo. “Even before we said good-bye to the F-104, we were sending people to Tucson to convert to the F-16,” explains Maj. Davide Salerno, commander of 18 Gruppo. “The pilots all went through the standard B-course, while some progressed to the two- or four-ship flight lead upgrade courses, and a selected few went to the instructor pilot course.” 18 Gruppo picked up alert commitments again in July 2004.
With conversion complete, 18 Gruppo changed its basic structure. All maintenance related activities previously part of the flying squadron have been regrouped under a newly formed overall maintenance squadron. “We focus completely on operations now,” Salerno notes. “The sole remaining support duties still part of the squadron are the mission-planning activities that focus on training, tactics, and operations.”
As a result of this changing role, the size of the squadron has been reduced. All the maintenance crews and technicians previously belonging to 18 Gruppo now form part of the Gruppo Efficienza Aeromobili (GEA), or Aircraft Efficiency Squadron. GEA takes care of all the first- and second-line maintenance supported by the Lockheed Martin technicians at Trapani.
“We provide maintenance and logistics support for the entire F-16 fleet,” says Lt. Col. Guiseppe Maggiore, commander of GEA at Trapani. “We also provide in-house training for the F-16 technicians.” For this training, 37 Stormo created a special center within GEA that provides all F-16 related maintenance training. Technicians from both Trapani and Cervia are trained at the GEA center. As a forward operating base, Cervia has a much smaller maintenance squadron so must rely heavily on Trapani. “We do all their phase inspections,” explains Maggiore. “All supplies come from here in Trapani.”
Besides reforming the maintenance organization, the changeover from F-104 to F-16 had its impact as well. “The maintenance concept of the F-16 is so different compared to the F-104,” the GEA chief says. “Working with line replaceable units, or LRUs, makes a big difference. Previously when a part broke down, the jet broke down and had to come off the mission planning board. With the LRUs, we can fix the jet on the ramp and continue to generate sorties.”
With all maintenance separated from the flying units comes the need to coordinate between the squadrons. “We discuss our requirement for aircraft with GEA in advance, so it can plan to accommodate our needs,” Salerno points out. The need to coordinate has increased now that Trapani has a second flying squadron online. During fall 2004, 10 Gruppo changed quarters from Grazzanise AB north of Naples to Trapani.
“Most of our conversion training is done now,” says Lt. Col. Michele Morelli, the commander of 10 Gruppo. “We are preparing to acquire a limited combat ready status,” he adds. In preparation for this status, the squadron picked up its quick reaction duties on the F-16 in February. Although the two squadrons are separate units, they cooperate closely. “We do our mission planning together, combining pilots in our sorties not just to be more flexible but to convey experience to new F-16 pilots,” Morelli points out.
As with its 18 Gruppo colleagues, 10 Gruppo previously operated the F-104 Starfighter at Grazzanise. In fact, the last operational Starfighter mission was with 10 Gruppo. Even before 10 Gruppo moved to Trapani, the squadrons worked together closely as the last F-104 pilots and aircraft from 18 Gruppo joined 10 Gruppo at Grazzanise in 2003. The Starfighter pilots performed their training and alerts from Grazzanise, being supported by 10 Gruppo. With both squadrons at Trapani, the roles have reversed.
“We receive a lot of support from our friends at the 18th,” Morelli adds. “They have a six-month lead on us, with experience that can benefit us.” 10 Gruppo is still under the command of Grazzanise's 9 Stormo, before being officially inserted in 37 Stormo at some future date.
Although the F-16s are viewed as a stopgap solution for the Italian Air Force, Cattaneo stresses the importance of the aircraft for Trapani. “The F-16 has given this base a future,” he notes. “Trapani was considered a marginal base with the F-104. Now that we have the F-16 and have been selected to receive the Eurofighter, we will add to the air defense potential of our air force. Our local communities receive an important economic boost because of the Peace Caesar program as well. So in the end, everybody benefits.”
Eric Stijger is an aviation photojournalist based in the Netherlands.
