LOCKHEED MARTIN F-35 Lightning IIs gathered at Amendola Air Base, Italy, for Falcon Strike 21, which took place from June 7-15. The joint multinational exercise involved participants from Israel, Italy, the UK and the USA. The exercise optimized integration between fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft, increased the level of co-operation in the F-35 logistics and expeditionary fields, and strengthened interoperability of allied and partner air forces during joint operations. This year's exercise was hosted by the Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI - Italian Air Force) and provided multinational forces the opportunity to test and improve shared technical and tactical knowledge, while conducting complex air operations in a multinational, joint force environment. Amendola was the main operating base for Falcon Strike 21 and all training scenarios took place in Italian air space. On June 8, a specific training activity - focused on the expeditionary capacity of the participating air forces - took place at the Pantelleria Airport Detachment, utilizing one F-35B from the AMI and one from the UK, which took off from the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, temporarily inserted into the exercise while operating in the Mediterranean Sea. After landing, the two F-35Bs carried out 'hot-pit' ground refueling with the engines running, from an AMI 46° Brigada Aerea KC-130J equipped with the ALARP (Air Landed Aircraft Refueling Point) system and operated by the staff of 3° Gruppo from Villafranca.
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