The first Lockheed Martin F-35 built outside of the USA rolled off the final assembly and check out (FACO) line at Cameri air base in Italy on 12 March. Conventional take-off and landing aircraft AL-1 is the first of eight now on the Alenia Aermac-chi-run line, and will be flown for the first time later this year. The 101-acre facility - which currently employs 750 people - features 11 final assembly stations. In addition to completing F-35 As and short take-off and vertical landing F-35Bs for the Italian air force and navy, it also will deliver aircraft for the Netherlands, and use remaining capacity for other European programme partners, Lockheed says. As a FACO owner, the Italian defence ministry also has agreed to take over heavy airframe maintenance, overhaul, repair and upgrade for European F-35s by 2018, using five stations.
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