Italian Air Force to train Swedish fighter pilots under 10-year agreement

Europe, News December 11, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

More than 100 Swedish fighter jet pilots would receive combat training in Italy over the decade under an agreement signed between Swedish Armed Forces and Italian Air Force. Sweden has become the first Nordic nation to have such defense collaboration with Italy.

Th training of Swedish fighter pilots will take place in Italy from January 2024 up to ten years.

In a statement released by the Italian Ministry of Defense on December 4, 2023, it was stated that a ten-year agreement has been signed between Italy and Sweden for pilot training. General Luca Goretti, the chief of staff of the Italian Air Force, and his Swedish counterpart, Major General Jonas Wikman signed the agreement over a virtual meeting.

“This is a further significant step for the safety of European skies: finding agreements and synergies between countries that share spaces and orientations is always productive,” Goretti said. “Working with Swedish colleagues will represent an opportunity for growth for both countries,” he added.

“I am happy that the agreement has now been signed and that we have the necessary conditions to get started with qualified flight training that meets the requirements of the future,” said Wikman.

The agreement stipulates that for the next decade, the flight training of more than 100 Swedish pilots and a dozen instructors will be handed over to the Italian air service, with the first batch arriving in the country next month.

Swedish Armed Forces and Italian Air Force — ^{The chief of the Swedish Air Force Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman, and the chief of the Italian Air Force, Lt. Gen. Luca Goretti, signed an agreement on December 4, 2023, that will allow Sweden to train future pilots in Italy for the next decade. (Image Credit: Swedish Armed Forces)}

Swedish pilots and instructors would receive basic training at the Galatina Air Base (LIBN) near Lecce, a city in Italy’s southern Apulia region, before moving to the world-renowned International Flight Training School (IFTS) in Sardinia for advanced training.

The decade-long training program is a collaboration between the Italian Air Force and, Leonardo, Italy’s top multinational company specializing in aerospace, defense, and security.

Under the program, Swedish pilots would receive extensive training on the T-346A Integrated Training System which is capable of simulating F-35s, Eurofighters, and Gripen aircrafts. IFTS has a fleet of 22 T-364A training systems.

Sweden’s fighter jets program

While Stockholm’s Nordic neighbors have chosen the F-35 for their fifth-generation fighter jet program, the Swedish decision on the path toward a next-generation fighter is still years away. Sweden, awaiting approval to join NATO, has experienced a convoluted history in determining its choice of the next-generation fighter aircraft for purchase or development.

Gripen fighter jets — *^{Swedish aerospace and defense company’s Gripen fighter aircraft flying in formation. (Image Credit: Saab/Flickr)}*

The backbone of the country’s air force currently is composed of Saab’s Gripen E aircraft, which is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter aircraft developed by the Swedish aerospace company Saab Group.

International Flight Training School (IFTS)

Born as a result of a strategic collaboration between the Italian Air Force and Leonardo, the IFTS is considered one of the best training facilities for modern-day fighter jet pilots. Italy has similar training contracts with several other countries including Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, Italy’s Ministry of Defense said.

The IFTS campus in Sardinia features comprehensive facilities for pilots and technical personnel. The state-of-the-art complex includes accommodations, recreational spaces, a cafeteria, sports amenities, and logistical and maintenance infrastructure designed to support a fleet of training aircraft and simulators.

A dedicated facility within the complex is exclusively devoted to the highly advanced Ground Based Training System (GBTS). This cutting-edge training system incorporates the latest generation simulation systems, providing an immersive and sophisticated training environment.