For 2 weeks, Italy hosted 4th and fifth gen belongings, joint capabilities, and naval elements in a coaching situation that displays at this time’s operational challenges.
The Italian Air Drive introduced the completion of Train Falcon Strike 2025 at Amendola Air Base, residence of the 32° Stormo and considered one of Europe’s fundamental hubs for fifth era fighter operations. Operating from Nov. 3 to 14, 2025, the train is the most important and most complicated coaching occasion organized by the Italian Air Drive this yr.
FS 2025, now on the third version, introduced collectively greater than 1,000 personnel and over 50 plane from Italy, america, the UK, France and Greece. The belongings concerned in train flew about 460 sorties and over 1,000 hours.
The Chief of Employees of the Italian Air Drive, Lt. Gen. Antonio Conserva, underscored the significance of the train, emphasizing the way it displays the complexity of present eventualities: “We function in eventualities the place we face air, land, naval, and cyber threats, in addition to a risk that we’d even outline as area,” Conserva defined. “Our crews practice to deal with this complexity and the ensuing technological challenges. With Falcon Strike 2025, we have now achieved an additional degree of operational functionality and readiness for our belongings.”
His feedback had been echoed by the Commander of the Air Fleet Command, Lt. Gen. Silvano Frigerio, who additionally emphasised the worth of interoperability: “We should attempt for optimum integration between fourth and fifth era plane and most interoperability between crews from completely different nations,” mentioned Frigerio. “Within the Atlantic Alliance, we have now been doing this for over 70 years: the problem is to deliver these capabilities to the very best degree.”
The Aviationist was at Amendola for the Media Day and the Spotters’ Day on Nov. 5 and 6, respectively, observing flight operations, upkeep demonstrations and the multinational line-up of fourth- and fifth-generation plane participating on this yr’s version of the train.
A Multinational Line-Up
As confirmed by the Italian Air Drive, the 2025 version included plane and personnel from 5 nations. Listed here are the belongings concerned:
Italian Air Drive:
F-35A/B of 32° Stormo and 6° Stormo, working from Amendola;
F-2000A of 4° Stormo and 36° Stormo, working from Grosseto and Gioia del Colle, respectively;
Twister of 6° Stormo, working from Ghedi;
T-346A of 61° Stormo, working from Decimomannu;
MQ-9 of 32° Stormo, working from Amendola;
KC-767, E-550 CAEW and SPYDR of 14° Stormo, working from Pratica di Mare;
KC-130J and C-27J of 46^ Brigata Aerea, working from Pisa;
P-72 of 41° Stormo, working from Sigonella;
MAADS (SYRIUS) from 2° Stormo;
Italian Navy:
F-35B and AV-8B+ of GRUPAER, working from Amendola;
U.S. Air Drive:
F-35 of forty eighth Fighter Wing, working from Amendola;
KC-135 of a centesimal Air Refueling Wing, working from Sigonella;
Royal Air Drive and Royal Navy:
F-35B and Merlin helicopters, working from HMS Prince of Wales;
Voyager tanker, working from Brindisi;
Train Falcon Strike 25 continues this week.
This main coaching deployment strengthens NATO collaboration and assessments Agile Fight Employment with our allies throughout Europe.#FlyandFight #WeAreNATO@ItalianAirForce@usairforce@Armee_de_lair@HAFspokesperson@thef35@NATO pic.twitter.com/ePxm9wC75O
— Royal Air Drive (@RoyalAirForce) November 12, 2025
French Air and Area Drive:
Rafale C of Base Aérienne Orange-Caritat (BA115), working from Amendola;
E-3F AWACS working from Base Aérienne 702 Avord (BA702);
A330 MRTT working from Base Aérienne 125 d’Istres (BA 125);
Hellenic Air Drive:
F-16 of one hundred and fifteenth Fighter Wing, working from Amendola.
The F-2000 Typhoons and T-346s had been additionally employed as a part of the Crimson Air, supported by tankers and AEW&C belongings. Whereas not explicitly acknowledged, it’s attainable that F-35s additionally joined the Reds to raised simulate operations in environments with the newest threats.
Training on easy methods to function with allied fifth gen plane and on easy methods to counter adversary fifth gen fight plane is an goal shared additionally by the higher identified Crimson Flag train, which built-in for the primary time adversary F-35 assigned to the sixty fifth Aggressor Squadron throughout the 22-3 version. Furthermore, within the 2022 version, the DIREX (Director of the Train) confirmed to us that Falcon Strike is similar to Crimson Flag and the international militaries that had been at Amendola even known as it an “European Crimson Flag.”
Whereas it may seem unusual, this isn’t the primary time the T-346 Lead-In Fighter Coach is used as an Aggressor throughout a high-intensity, multinational train. Actually, due to its nice efficiency, capability to simulate the flight traits of different plane and to duplicate a big selection of sensors and weapons, the jet is ideal to play the “Bandit” position.
A notable characteristic of this version is the presence of belongings from each the Italian Navy and the Royal Navy, additional increasing the maritime dimension of the multi-domain train. The involvement of the British Provider Strike Group in Falcon Strike 2025 was deliberate as a part of Operation HIGHMAST, the UK’s eight-month international deployment throughout the Mediterranean, Center East and Indo-Pacific.
RAF Air and Area Commander Air Marshal Allan Marshall highlighted how the train “strengthens interoperability, deepens mutual understanding and ensures that each nations stay able to ship decisive air energy at any time when and wherever it’s wanted.”
F-35B’s✈️On deck. On the right track. On process.
From Ex #FalconStrike25 🇮🇹,to the deck of @HMSPWLS, UK Lightning jets are proving what teamwork appears like.🤝
With @NATO allies, our F-35Bs are sharpening warfighting abilities & exhibiting how collectively we preserve @COMUKCSG secure🛡️#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/9iX3u1lz0I
— Defence Operations 🇬🇧 (@DefenceOps) November 13, 2025
Strengthening fifth Era Integration in Complicated Situations
In accordance with the Italian Air Drive, Falcon Strike 2025 is designed to check and refine multinational techniques in high-intensity, peer-opponent eventualities. These included anti-access environments, dynamic focusing on, superior command-and-control chains and multi-domain results, in addition to a number of the focuses of recent eventualities equivalent to Agile Fight Employment (ACE) and drone and cruise missile protection.
Giant areas of airspace over the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas had been devoted to the train, in addition to different belongings in Sardinia. Actually, the situation made use of Reside, Digital and Constructive (LVC) simulation, primarily hosted on the Poligono Sperimentale e di Addestramento Interforze di Salto di Quirra (PISQ – Joint Take a look at and Coaching Vary) in Sardinia, the place the Aeronautica Militare recreates a whole digital battlespace populated with superior threats.
The vary employed simulated and actual risk emitters, Digital Warfare programs and tactical autos to recreate a dynamic and complicated battlefield. “Smokey SAM” programs additional improved the realism, simulating Man-Moveable Air-Protection Methods (MANPADS).
The service outlined the train as “a leap into the long run,” emphasizing its position in validating fifth-generation employment ideas and enhancing interoperability throughout NATO fleets due to the sharing of procedures, instruments, and experience. NATO’s Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) equally described Falcon Strike 2025 as a key contributor to the Alliance’s Deterrence and Protection posture, strengthening standardization and readiness throughout collaborating air forces.
Allied Air Forces are in 🇮🇹 for #FalconStrike2025 ✈️Greater than 1,000 personnel & 50+ plane from 🇫🇷🇬🇷🇮🇹🇬🇧🇺🇸 practice collectively.
Hosted by 🇮🇹 @ItalianAirForce, the train integrates 4th & fifth gen plane, ACE & LVC coaching
🔗Learn extra: pic.twitter.com/CXyURcdxW3
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) November 7, 2025
The 2-week occasion is structured round day by day “vignettes” that enhance in complexity. Particularly, the primary week targeted on 4th and fifth gen integration, pairing plane such because the Eurofighter, Rafale, Twister and F-16 with F-35s. The second week shifted the main target to fifth gen-only missions, permitting Lightning II operators to coach within the high-end roles for which the plane was designed.
Within the 2022 version of the train, a number of the F-35s additionally flew with out the same old RCS (Radar Cross Part) enhancers/radar reflectors usually put in throughout peacetime and coaching operations. The plane had been flying this fashion with their lowest radar “signature”, taking full benefit of their low-observable capabilities.
This alternative was consistent with a situation that simulated the primary days of struggle, with NATO responding to a disaster that rapidly reworked in an armed battle. Whereas throughout each the Media and Spotters’ Days the F-35 operated with the RCS enhancers put in, it’s attainable they “unlocked” the total low-observable capabilities throughout the second week of the train.
The train consists of massive Composite Air Operations (COMAO) within the Essential Wave, in addition to “Shadow Wave” packages for different coaching wants. Superior coaching sequences concerned cruise missile eventualities, SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses), ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and tactical command-and-control.
Sous conduite du @CDAOAofficiel, du 03 au 09 novembre, les #Rafale de la 5e escadre de chasse ont pris half à Falcon Strike 25🇮🇹.Un exercice #OTAN visant à renforcer la coopération et l’interopérabilité entre avions de dernière génération. ✈️➡️ pic.twitter.com/CJcTTw8I1p
— Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (@Armee_de_lair) November 12, 2025
Notably, the cruise missile eventualities concerned the employment of Mirach 100/5 goal drones, with the plane simulating the interception and engagement. A hall was established for the operations of the Mirach, stretching from land in the direction of the ocean, more likely to simulate the launch of cruise missiles in opposition to naval models.
Coaching for the Challenges of Tomorrow
Central to Falcon Strike 2025 was the deal with fifth era plane coaching. The Italian Air Drive describes the F-35’s position as a “deterrent instrument” and a core factor of nationwide and NATO air energy. The distributed sensors, information fusion and safe datalinks of the Lightning II enable it to function as a battlefield data node, sharing real-time information with fourth-generation platforms and coordinating complicated strike or defensive packages.
These capabilities are used extensively all through the train. The Aeronautica Militare notes that crews should have the ability to take fast choices in high-threat environments, leveraging superior command-and-control networks such because the E-550 CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) and built-in tactical datalinks throughout the coalition.
Upkeep actions additionally play a key position. In the course of the Media Day, a stay demonstration of F-35 upkeep and refueling procedures showcased the extent of standardization and cooperation required for sustainment of the fifth gen fleet throughout NATO. Joint and cross upkeep actions between Italian and international technicians had been scheduled all through the train.
One other important exercise was the Air Landed Plane Refueling Level (ALARP) occasion performed on the thirty sixth Wing in Gioia del Colle, the place Italian and British personnel performed the recent pit refueling of two F-35B plane, earlier than quickly taking off to proceed their operational mission. Each the recent pit refueling and cross upkeep allowed to make sure operational continuity and the response functionality in high-intensity eventualities.
The Italian Air Drive highlighted how this was helpful to check the Agile Fight Employment (ACE) idea, shifting from a base and proceed to function from geographically dispersed places. The inclusion of ACE was additionally a characteristic of the earlier editions of the train, with FS 2021 that includes austere runway operations and hot-pit refueling on Pantelleria Island and FS 2022 together with cross-maintenance operations.
The service additionally underscored the significance of such occasions for sustaining readiness and resilience, particularly given the rising operational commitments at residence and overseas. As 32° Stormo Commander Col. Roberto Losengo defined, “coaching with allies means responding collectively to up to date challenges and threats, guaranteeing readiness, resilience and deterrence.”
