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The government of Italy signed a letter of agreement in March to lease thirty-four F-16s from the USAF inventory. The F-16s will replace the Tornado Air Defense Version aircraft and F-104s, both operated in the air defense role. The first F-16s will be delivered in mid-2003.
The Italian Air Force will receive thirty single-seat F-16 aircraft in the Block 15 Air Defense Fighter configuration and four two-seat F-16B Block 10 OCU aircraft. Italy will be the twenty-first country to operate the F-16, and the sixth country to acquire Fighting Falcons from USAF inventory.
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