The first U.S. Air Force in Europe F-35A arrived at Cameri’s Euro-Med Airframe MRO&U Facility for planned depot maintenance.
On Mar. 24, 2025, an F-35A of the U.S. Air Force, operated by the 495th FS “Valkyries,” touched down at Cameri Air Base, Italy. This event marked the beginning of the first ever planned depot maintenance of a USAF F-35A based in Europe undertaken at the FACO/MRO&U (Final Assembly and Check Out – Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade) facilities at Cameri Air Base.
As reported on the JPO’s (Joint Program Office) X page, this event is a testament to the program’s commitment to global partnerships and sustainment excellence. The first U.S. F-35 to arrive in Italy for maintenance is the airframe 19-5475, which is one of the first four F-35s delivered to RAF Lakenheath, UK, in 2021.
🚨 Historic milestone achieved!
The first United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) F-35 from the 495th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, UK, has been inducted into the Euro-Med Airframe MRO&U facility in Cameri, Italy.
This momentous step not only brings a USAFE aircraft… pic.twitter.com/9muIQRfTWC
— F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (@theF35JPO) March 26, 2025
As mentioned by the press release, this achievement follows a year and a half of intense coordination led by the JPO and involving representatives from USAFE, the Italian Ministry of Defense, Lockheed Martin and Leonardo. With this move, the U.S. Air Force becomes the fourth partner and fifth service to join the European Regional Depot, reinforcing Cameri’s role in the project.
Capt. Sigfrido Chiandussi, the Italian National Deputy for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, stated ‘’Italy is proud to be a driving force behind this crucial initiative, and we are confident that our investment will yield significant returns in terms of regional security, stability and prosperity for all.’’
Cameri Air Base: The Central European hub for F-35 support
Located in northern Italy, Cameri is a proven strategic facility that has long supported the Italian Air Force’s Tornado and Eurofighter fleets. In recent years, however, its significance has expanded internationally, thanks to the joint venture between Leonardo and Lockheed Martin which has transformed Cameri into the European Central Hub for the F-35 construction and support.
The facility spans across over 500,000 square meters, and as already well known by the public, it is home to the only European assembly line for the F-35 Aircraft. The factory not only assembles the aircraft but also features a dedicated complex for the construction of wings and part of the fuselage, supporting other assembly lines worldwide.
In addition to its assembly capabilities, Cameri also hosts the MROU (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Upgrade) Facility that, since 2022, has been providing maintenance services to European F-35s.
Cameri FACO and MROU: Key Pillars of the European F-35 Supply Chain
At the heart of Cameri’s role in the European F-35 Program is the FACO (Final Assembly and Check Out) facility. This state-of-the-art facility is primarily responsible for assembling both the A and B variants of the Lightning II. Remarkably, Cameri is the only facility outside the U.S. capable of assembling the STOVL (Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing) variant of the aircraft.
Cameri is currently the main construction site of Dutch and Italian F-35A as well as Italian F-35B aircraft. In the next future, the FACO will expand its role in the F-35 program, supporting the assembly process of the jets of other European counties such as Switzerland and Czech Republic.
The complex assembly process culminates with the flight tests phase, as each F-35 is tested by DCMA (Defense Contract and Management Agency) and Lockheed Martin test pilots through a rigorous schedule that involves flight operations inside designated areas over northern Italy, before being handed over to the respective operating nations.
Another crucial component of Cameri’s capabilities is the MROU (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade) facility, which has been operational since 2019. The main task of the MROU is to support the operators in the process of maintaining the fleet and upgrading the platforms throughout their operational life, with activities including repairs, upgrades and modifications.
Starting from 2022, with the arrival of the first Norwegian F-35, the MROU has started to conduct maintenance activities on European F-35s.
These capabilities, as highlighted by the induction of the first USAFE (U.S. Air Forces in Europe) aircraft, are not only vital for European partners, but also represent a crucial element for the U.S. The ability to conduct major maintenance actions directly in Europe, without the need of sending aircraft back to the U.S. for servicing, drastically reduces the costs associated with the logistic side of the Lightning II, even improving the tactical availability of the airplanes.
A Quick Sum Up of the F-35 Maintenance Process
The F-35 maintenance process can be summarized in four main levels. The first level is called OLM (Organizational Level Maintenance) and it is the lowest level of maintenance, primarily performed by operating units during everyday operations.
The second level is called IML (Intermediate Level Maintenance) and involves more complex maintenance actions. This level is performed by maintenance personnel with more specialized training, either at the home base or factory, depending on equipment and infrastructure availability.
The third and highest level of physical maintenance is called DLM (Depot Level Maintenance), which is performed at specialized depot facilities such as Cameri, in Italy, for major repairs, overhaul, and upgrades. Last but not least, the fourth level, which is integral across all other levels, focuses on software maintenance and upgrades, ensuring the aircraft’s systems remain current and operationally effective throughout its service life.
RAF Lakenheath and the 495th Fighter Squadron “Valkiries”
The 495th Fighter Squadron (FS), reactivated on Oct. 1, 2021, is a key unit within the 48th Fighter Wing, stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom. It is the first U.S. Air Force squadron in Europe, of a total of two, to operate the advanced F-35A aircraft.
Thanks to the Lightning II the 495th FS is now capable of performing a wide range of operations. These include both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, which are essential for maintaining air superiority and supporting various combat scenarios. As far as we know, the 495th Squadron is currently operating 26 aircraft, which are marked with a name taken from Norse mythology painted on the nose gear doors.
RAF Lakenheath is currently housing the only two USAF squadrons operating the 5th gen aircraft in Europe, the already mentioned 495th FS and the 493rd FS. The two squadrons are operating a total fleet of approximately 46 aircraft.
