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A new generation of Pilots take flight at Italy's International Flight Training School, bolstering NATO's Collective Capabilities

NATO Allied Air Command

Jul 7 2025

Ramstein, Germany -- On July 2, 2025 a new generation of 67 pilots, including representatives from NATO Allied and Partner nations, successfully completed their advanced flying training at the International Flight Training School (IFTS) in Decimomannu, a leading Italian Air Force facility.

The IFTS is a cornerstone in future-proofing Allied air power, with its primary focus on Phase IV of flight training, known as "Lead In to Fighter Training (LIFT)." This crucial phase is designed to seamlessly transition pilots into operational deployment on sophisticated combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter and F-35, providing them with advanced skills in flight maneuvers, tactical execution, and the masterful management of complex mission systems. The school employs an advanced training system that combines real-flight experience on M-346 aircraft with the intensive use of high-tech simulators - a LVC ("Live, Virtual, Constructive") system able to create complex and dynamic operational scenarios, a cutting-edge approach that enhances interoperability across Allied forces.

Among the newly qualified aviators were personnel from the Italian Air Force and the air forces of Austria, Germany, Greece, and Singapore. This robust international participation underscores Italy's pivotal role in advanced flight training and its unwavering commitment to fostering international defence cooperation. The graduation event was attended by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, and numerous other civil, military, and religious dignitaries.

The IFTS become fully operational in 2022, in the current flight training classes there are more than 10 nations including NATO member states such as Canada, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK represented, alongside key NATO partners and contact countries such as Austria, Japan, Qatar, Republic of Singapore, and Saudi Arabia.

Lieutenant General Antonio Conserva, the Italian Air Force Chief of Staff, stated, "Defence and the Air Force are tasked with maintaining the highest level of operational readiness for their assets, partly by training pilots to the highest quality standards, to ensure the defence of Italian and Allied skies, and an adequate level of deterrence capable of safeguarding peace in every context."

The presence of pilots from across the Alliance and its network of global partners illustrates the collaborative spirit and shared commitment to collective defence. It reinforces the understanding that highly specialized and interoperable training serves as a cornerstone for maintaining NATO's collective security and effectively addressing the evolving challenges of the modern geopolitical landscape.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office