In March, the Aeronautica Militare celebrated 100 years of operations. Joe Campion recently visited Italy to explore the air force’s current structure and its future aspirations
Lt Gen Luca Goretti shared with AirForces Monthly his current and future focuses for the Aeronautica Militare (AM). They range from developments in fourth- and fifth-generation fighter integration, increasing cyber-security efforts, enhancing operational tactics, evolving the development of pilot training, introducing a next-generation high-speed helicopter and developing the Global Combat Aircraft Programme (GCAP) with Italy’s partners, the UK and Japan.

He told AFM: “The Lockheed Martin F-35A/B Lightning II operation is a major focus of the AM, but we are undergoing a major transformation programme to confront what is an uncertain and unpredictable future. This requires us to have a flexible, technologically advanced approach to face the new threats.