Swiss F-35A production advances with assembly in Italy

Production of the Swiss Air Force’s new F-35A fighter jet fleet is progressing according to schedule. In Cameri, Italy, the first fuselage section and wing for the aircraft designated J-6004 have been assembled at the Leonardo facility, which serves as Europe’s sole F-35 final assembly line.

Following assembly in Italy, components will be transported to the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas, for final integration. Training for Swiss pilots and ground personnel is scheduled to begin in mid-2027 at the Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas using the first eight aircraft.

The first F-35A produced in Cameri is expected to be transferred to Switzerland in mid-2028, with the specific aircraft J-6004 anticipated to arrive by the end of 2029. The fleet will be deployed across Swiss military airfields, with stationing planned for Payerne in 2028, Meiringen in 2030, and Emmen in 2032.