14 For the first time ever, two Italian air force F-35 Lightning IIs, assigned to the 32nd Wing, Amendola Air Base, Italy, landed at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 20-21, in support of Astral Knight 2021.
AK21 is an integrated air and missile defense exercise focused on defending key terrain, involving service members from Albania, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and the United States.
This year ITAF F-35 pilots, who also participated in Astral Knight 2019, played the role of “allies” during AK21.
“I was flying in AK19 with the [ITAF] squadron and a [U.S. F-35s] with my former students over the Adriatic Sea,” said ‘Decker,’ ITAF 13th Squadron commander. “I felt at home in a perfect comfort zone, sharing plans is a strength for conducting operations.”
For the first time ever, two Italian air force F-35 Lightning IIs, assigned to the 32nd Wing, Amendola Air Base, Italy, landed at Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 20-21, in support of Astral Knight 2021.,