First USAFE F-35 Inducted at Cameri’s MRO&U Facility

The primary U.S. Air Power in Europe F-35A arrived at Cameri’s Euro-Med Airframe MRO&U Facility for deliberate depot upkeep.

On Mar. 24, 2025, an F-35A of the U.S. Air Power, operated by the 495th FS “Valkyries,” touched down at Cameri Air Base, Italy. This occasion marked the start of the primary ever deliberate depot upkeep of a USAF F-35A based mostly in Europe undertaken on the FACO/MRO&U (Remaining Meeting and Examine Out – Upkeep, Restore, Overhaul and Improve) services at Cameri Air Base.

As reported on the JPO’s (Joint Program Workplace) X web page, this occasion is a testomony to this system’s dedication to world partnerships and sustainment excellence. The primary U.S. F-35 to reach in Italy for upkeep is the airframe 19-5475, which is among the first four F-35s delivered to RAF Lakenheath, UK, in 2021.

🚨 Historic milestone achieved!

The primary United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) F-35 from the 495th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, UK, has been inducted into the Euro-Med Airframe MRO&U facility in Cameri, Italy.

This momentous step not solely brings a USAFE plane… pic.twitter.com/9muIQRfTWC

— F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Workplace (@theF35JPO) March 26, 2025

As talked about by the press release, this achievement follows a yr and a half of intense coordination led by the JPO and involving representatives from USAFE, the Italian Ministry of Protection, Lockheed Martin and Leonardo. With this transfer, the U.S. Air Power turns into the fourth associate and fifth service to hitch the European Regional Depot, reinforcing Cameri’s position within the mission.

Capt. Sigfrido Chiandussi, the Italian Nationwide Deputy for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Workplace, said ‘’Italy is proud to be a driving drive behind this important initiative, and we’re assured that our funding will yield vital returns by way of regional safety, stability and prosperity for all.’’

Cameri Air Base: The Central European hub for F-35 assist

Situated in northern Italy, Cameri is a confirmed strategic facility that has lengthy supported the Italian Air Power’s Twister and Eurofighter fleets. Lately, nevertheless, its significance has expanded internationally, because of the three way partnership between Leonardo and Lockheed Martin which has reworked Cameri into the European Central Hub for the F-35 building and assist.

The ability spans throughout over 500,000 sq. meters, and as already well-known by the general public, it’s residence to the one European assembly line for the F-35 Aircraft. The manufacturing unit not solely assembles the plane but in addition contains a devoted complicated for the development of wings and a part of the fuselage, supporting different meeting traces worldwide.

Along with its meeting capabilities, Cameri additionally hosts the MROU (Upkeep, Restore, Overhaul, and Improve) Facility that, since 2022, has been offering upkeep companies to European F-35s.

Cameri FACO and MROU: Key Pillars of the European F-35 Provide Chain

On the coronary heart of Cameri’s position within the European F-35 Program is the FACO (Remaining Meeting and Examine Out) facility. This state-of-the-art facility is primarily answerable for assembling each the A and B variants of the Lightning II. Remarkably, Cameri is the one facility exterior the U.S. able to assembling the STOVL (Brief Take-Off and Vertical Touchdown) variant of the plane.

Cameri is at present the principle building web site of Dutch and Italian F-35A in addition to Italian F-35B aircraft. Within the subsequent future, the FACO will increase its position within the F-35 program, supporting the meeting means of the jets of different European counties akin to Switzerland and Czech Republic.

The complicated meeting course of culminates with the flight exams part, as every F-35 is examined by DCMA (Protection Contract and Administration Company) and Lockheed Martin check pilots by means of a rigorous schedule that includes flight operations inside designated areas over northern Italy, earlier than being handed over to the respective working nations.

One other essential element of Cameri’s capabilities is the MROU (Upkeep, Restore, Overhaul and Improve) facility, which has been operational since 2019. The primary activity of the MROU is to assist the operators within the means of sustaining the fleet and upgrading the platforms all through their operational life, with actions together with repairs, upgrades and modifications.

Ranging from 2022, with the arrival of the primary Norwegian F-35, the MROU has began to conduct upkeep actions on European F-35s.

These capabilities, as highlighted by the induction of the primary USAFE (U.S. Air Forces in Europe) plane, will not be solely important for European companions, but in addition characterize a vital component for the U.S. The power to conduct main upkeep actions instantly in Europe, with out the necessity of sending plane again to the U.S. for servicing, drastically reduces the prices related to the logistic facet of the Lightning II, even bettering the tactical availability of the airplanes.

A Fast Sum Up of the F-35 Upkeep Course of

The F-35 upkeep course of will be summarized in 4 most important ranges. The primary degree known as OLM (Organizational Degree Upkeep) and it’s the lowest degree of upkeep, primarily carried out by working items throughout on a regular basis operations.

The second degree known as IML (Intermediate Degree Upkeep) and includes extra complicated upkeep actions. This degree is carried out by upkeep personnel with extra specialised coaching, however nonetheless on the residence base.

The third and highest degree of bodily upkeep known as DLM (Depot Degree Upkeep), which is carried out at specialised depot services akin to Cameri, in Italy, for main repairs, overhaul, and upgrades. Final however not least, the fourth degree, which is integral throughout all different ranges, focuses on software program upkeep and upgrades, guaranteeing the plane’s techniques stay present and operationally efficient all through its service life.

RAF Lakenheath and the 495th Fighter Squadron “Valkiries”

The 495th Fighter Squadron (FS), reactivated on Oct. 1, 2021, is a key unit throughout the forty eighth Fighter Wing, stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the UK. It’s the first U.S. Air Power squadron in Europe, of a complete of two, to function the superior F-35A plane.

Because of the Lightning II the 495th FS is now able to performing a variety of operations. These embody each air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, that are important for sustaining air superiority and supporting numerous fight situations. So far as we all know, the 495th Squadron is at present working 26 plane, that are marked with a reputation taken from Norse mythology painted on the nostril gear doorways.

RAF Lakenheath is at present housing the one two USAF squadrons working the fifth gen plane in Europe, the already talked about 495th FS and the 493rd FS. The 2 squadrons are working a complete fleet of roughly 46 plane.