CAMERI, ITALY AND THE F-35
Crafting an Italian Approach to 21st Century Airpower
SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE
Delivering Capabilities to the War Fighter
http://www.sldinfo.com
CAMERI, ITALY AND THE F-35: CRAFTING AN ITALIAN APPROACH TO 21ST CEN
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TURY AIRPOWER
Table of Contents
The Italian Approach to the F-35: A Discussion with Rear Admiral Covella
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A 21st Century Approach to Airpower: The Italian Air Force and the F-35
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6
The Italian Way of Procuring the F-35: Shaping a European Base for the
Global Fleet
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Re-Thinking the Role of the Smaller Deck Carrier: The Case of Cavour
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11
Building Out an F-35 Fleet Sustainment Center in Italy
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14
An Update from Cameri on the Cameri F-35 Campus: October 2013
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Another Aspect of F-35 Culture Change: Building Out the Cameri Facility
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20
Lessons Learned at Cameri: Their Implications for Asia
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21
The F-35, Allies, and Global Investments in 21st Century Airpower
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25
A Global Supply Chain
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Global Sustainment Centers or Hubs
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26
The Weapons Revolution
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28
Second Line of Defense
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November 2013
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In this special report, we look at the Italian engagement with the F-35 and the thinking of Italian airpower leaders
about the impact of the F-35 on the future.
At Cameri, Italians are standing up a Final Assembly and Check Out Facility or FACO, a Final Wing Assembly for
building for the global fleet, and Fleet Sustainment Facility for the region, including Europe, the Mediterranean and
the Middle East.
The Cameri facility includes both an ATF or Aircraft Test Facility (for testing stealth performance) and a final paint
facility. This means that in the heart of Europe, the F-35 fleet will have a battle damage facility.
Cameri, Fort Worth, Japan and Israel will all see key elements of the F-35 global production system. This means that
for the first time, the United States in building its front line fighter is looking to work differently with allies. In turn,
allies are building out a global sustainment capability available to those nations, which buy, into the F-35 fleet.
Significant cross learning has already occurred, but is just beginning. The advantages of building a global system
where best practices can be developed are obvious.
Building a global sustainment approach is less so. But the impact on the cost of operations of an airfleet is significant.
Rather than bringing the logistical support equipment and material to the operational forward base, the forward de
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ployment of warehoused parts and regionally based sustainment competencies will not only allow and air fleet to
move rapidly to a problem but to reduce the need for surge airlift and tanking to get those supplies to the point of
attack.
This is part of what the head of the Italian Air Force refers to the F-35 as part of building new coalition capabilities
and shaping an F-35 fleet which can operate through coalitions against distributed challenges with distributed opera
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tional capabilities.
We start the Special Report by providing the interviews with RADM Covella, the head of the F-35 program in Italy,
Lt. General Preziosa, the head of the Italian Air Force, BG Espisoto and Lt General Lupoli who focused on their per
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spectives on the F-35 and the evolution of Italian airpower.
We next add a look at the impact of the new aircraft on the latest Italian aircraft carrier, the Cavour. What is the im
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pact of shifting from Harriers to F-35Bs on the role of this type of ship?
We next examine the perspectives of four key industrial executives working in Italy with Alenia Aermacchi (AAeM)
to make Cameri a reality. Their experience and perspectives are unique and are part of a new approach to Euro-
American defense industrial cooperation.
We then close with two more general pieces providing overviews.
The first looks at the nature of change posed by the Italian experience for the Asians as the Japanese add their own
FACO facility.
The second looks at the general approach of the F-35 program to allies and the role of global investments.
It is the case of a 21st century combat aircraft built in global 21st century facilities with a global sustainment approach
built in.
This is a unique moment in military aviation history.
Second Line of Defense
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November 2013
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