The Piemonte site, the heart of the F-35 programme's European production activity, was chosen by the United States government and Lockheed Martin as the aircraft’s only Final Assembly and Check-Out (FACO) line in Europe, the second wing assembly line (the only one outside the U.S.) and the Euro-Mediterranean regional heavy airframe Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul & Upgrade (MRO&U) centre.
Currently in service in eleven countries, the F-35 multi-role fighter will become the most widely used aircraft within NATO in the coming years. Some of the twenty-four F-35s acquired by the Czech Republic could be produced at Leonardo’s facility, where general maintenance could also be managed.
The report describes the programme’s safety procedures and highlights the technological potential of the site, where Leonardo's people contribute to the various production phases. As underlined by Roberto Volpe, Director of the Cameri site, “The specialised teams’ activity also comprises suggesting ideas for improving production and quality, and reducing process costs.”