The 6° Stormo of the Aeronautica Militare (AMI, Italian Air Force) at the Ghedi base held a ceremony this week to mark the decommissioning of the IDS and IDS-T fighter-bomber variants of the Italian Tornados. Two of the swing-wing aircraft coded “6-xx” flew a final formation flight. They were accompanied by their replacement, an F-35A.
A Tornado squadron is stationed in Ghedi, located in Lombardy near Brescia, south of Lake Garda, as part of the so-called nuclear sharing program of NATO can deploy American nuclear bombs. These bombs are also stored in bunkers at the base.
Strike version first, ECR follows later
As part of the “Iniochos 2025” exercise in Andravida, Greece (-> Militär Aktuell at Greece’s largest air force exercise), Militär Aktuell was told in April that Ghedi marks the beginning of the replacement of the Strike version (IDS). The special ECR variant for combating enemy air defenses – still used in a similar form by the German Air Force – is to remain in service in Italy for another two years or so.
The exercise, also known for its spectacular low-level flights through the Varoufakis Gorge, was the last time that Tornados from both squadrons of the 6° Stormo took part:
- 154° Gruppo “Diavoli Rossi” (Red Devils)
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155° Gruppo, mixed from IDS and ECR
The 155° Gruppo will be the last unit to continue flying the ECR version with its main armament, the AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missile. However, there is a possibility that some IDS (Italian designation: A/TA-200A) with remaining flight hours will be transferred to the 155° and finish their service there – not least because the 154° has so far also ensured the reconnaissance capabilities of the AMI with the aid of RecceLite pods.
Historical review and combat missions
The squadron was established in 1936 during the Fascist era and received its first Tornados in August 1982. Apart from two IDS prototypes and one pre-series airframe, the Italian Air Force received a total of 99 IDS aircraft (Interdictor/Strike) out of a total production of 974 airframes. These were divided into 87 standard variants and 12 training aircraft with dual controls in both cockpits.
From September 25, 1990, eight Tornados were stationed at the Al Dhafra airbase (United Arab Emirates, near Abu Dhabi) as part of Operation Desert Shield. They were used in the subsequent Second Gulf War in “Desert Storm” to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.
On the night of January 17-18, 1991, the aircraft MM7074, flown by Major Gianmarco Bellini and navigator Captain Maurizio Cocciolone, was shot down over Kuwait. The crew had successfully engaged their target and was the only aircraft in the mission package that was able to refuel in the stormy night. The duo were taken prisoner and were only released at the end of the war after 47 days of torture.
A detailed description of this mission can be found on the page “The Aviationist” by David Cenciotti.
F-35 as a replacement – including STOVL version
Italy was involved in the F-35 program from the outset as a so-called Level 2 partner. The government originally planned to purchase 131 aircraft to replace the Air Force’s ageing and cost-intensive AMX and Tornado fleets as well as the Navy’s AV-8B+ Harrier II.
Due to financial considerations, however, this number was reduced to 90 in 2012 – 60 F-35A and 30 F-35B. The latter were to be split equally between the Air Force and the Navy. In 2024, in parallel with the order for 24 additional Eurofighters in Tranche 4, it was decided to increase the F-35 fleet by a further 20 aircraft. This involves 15 F-35As and five F-35Bs.
Here for more news about the Italian armed forces.
