Italy has received its initial Lockheed Martin F-35A - the first example of the stealth type assembled outside the USA. The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), aircraft AL-1, was handed over to the nation's defence ministry on 3 December, during a closed-doors ceremony at Italy's final assembly and check out facility at Cameri air base. It will remain at the site for pilot familiarisation before being transferred in early 2016 to Luke AFB in Arizona, where it will support training. During its flight to the USA it will be accompanied by an Italian air force Boeing KC-767A tanker. Two of the service's pilots have begun receiving instruction on the JSF, and flew F-35s for the first time on 6 November in the USA.
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