In a First, U.S.A.F. to Train Its Pilots Abroad Italy’s IFTS to Host Program on M346A Aircraft

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) will send pilots overseas for training for the first time in its history, under an agreement with Italy’s International Flight Training School (IFTS) at Decimomannu.

The deal, signed on August 22, by Italian Air Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Antonio Conserva and U.S. Air Force Air Education & Training Command leader Lieutenant General Brian S. Robinson, establishes the “Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for Flight Training of the USAF Military Personnel in Italy.”

Ten American student pilots will arrive at the Sardinian base as part of the program, which uses the T-346A aircraft. The aircraft’s similarities to the USAF’s future T-7 trainer were a key factor in the decision. 

The training will follow the “Multiphase Jet Training Integrated Syllabus,” developed jointly by the Italian Air Force and the USAF, enabling students to earn a Military Pilot License in about nine months. 

The IFTS is operated through a partnership between the Italian Air Force and Leonardo. It provides Phase IV training (Advanced/Lead-In to Fighter Training) and uses the T-346A Integrated Training System to prepare pilots for modern combat aircraft including the F-35, Eurofighter, and Gripen.

The Decimomannu facility includes a fleet of 22 T-346A aircraft, simulation-based Ground Based Training Systems (GBTS), and an “Air Campus” designed to house trainees, instructors, and technical staff.

This agreement marks a new direction in U.S. military aviation training, placing NATO cooperation at the center of pilot development.