Start News Air Aeronautica Militare marks transition of 154th Squadron to the F-35A

Ghedi_ttansition to F-35 (AM) — As the 6th Wing of the Aeronautica Militare marked the transition of the 154th ‘Red Devils’ Squadron from the Panavia Tornado IDS variant to the F-35A, one of the Tornados received a special livery to commemorate the occasion. This depicted the Arrow of the 154th Squadron with a Red Devil inside it, projected from the wake of ‘Rising Sun’: a symbol that recalls the motto ‘Banzai – diving into the target’, coined during the First Gulf War. [AM]

Aeronautica Militare marks transition of 154th Squadron to the F-35A

Peter Felstead

14. July 2025

The 6^th Wing of the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare – AM) has marked the transition of the 154th ‘Red Devils’ Squadron from the Panavia Tornado Interdiction/Strike (IDS) variant to the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.

A series of ceremonial events were held over 2-3 July 2025 at Ghedi Air Base in northern Italy to mark the occasion in the presence of the commander of the AM’s Combat Forces Command, General Marco Lant.

While 3 July became the day that the 154th Squadron officially ended its operational service with the Tornado IDS, the squadron has so far received four F-35As.

The 154th Squadron was the first AM unit to receive the Tornado, in 1982, but with the unit converting to the F-35A the AM’s 155^th Squadron, also based at Ghedi, is the sole operational AM unit equipped with the Panavia Tornado, flying electronic combat/reconnaissance (ECR) variants of the type.

The events at Ghedi also marked the conversion of the 6th Wing into an F-35 main operating base, with the 154^th Squadron now joining the 102^nd Squadron in operating the F-35 there. The base has consequently been assigned the AM’s national air defence mission. The 6^th Wing is also tasked with acquiring and maintaining the capability to conduct strike, reconnaissance, and support operations for surface forces, as well as electronic reconnaissance and support for strike forces against targets related to enemy forces.

Speaking during the ceremonial events at Ghedi, Gen Lant stated, “This handover, from the Tornado to the F-35, is not just a change of aircraft. It is a bridge between the glorious past and a future of even more ambitious challenges. It requires new skills, new methodologies, and constant and tireless training. I am certain that you will approach all of this with the same pioneering spirit, the same passion, and the same rigour.”

Italy has a programme of record for 75 F-35As and 40 F-35Bs, having announced in September 2024 that it was adding 25 aircraft to its previous programme of record for 90 F-35A/Bs.