Leasing Jet Fighter Planes to Fill the Temporary Gap (Stop-Gap) Is a Practical and Economical Method

Leasing Jet Fighter Planes to Fill the Temporary Gap (Stop-Gap) is a Very Practical Method. Italy successfully applied this method with two different aircraft types from two different countries.

The Italian Air Force (AMI-Aeronautica Militare Italiana) is a member of the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium (UK, Germany, Italy, Spain), established in 1989.

Since the early nineties, the Italian Air Force has been very persistent and with serious efforts; was searching for a new aircraft to replace its obsolete Aeritalia F-104S Starfighters. They selected the Eurofighter Typhoon as the aircraft intended and planned to replace the F-104S and were included in the consortium of this aircraft.

However, since the delivery of the Eurofighter Typhoon was well behind schedule; For the purpose of "filling the gap" (stop-gap) for 5 to 10 years until the arrival of the Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon; It needed an alternative jet fighter that could perform the air defense mission, therefore; He was looking for a temporary solution.

Since AMI has a large number of Tornado IDS (interdictor/strike) aircraft; In 1993, it was decided to lease 24 Tornado ADV (Air Defense Variant) aircraft from the RAF (Royal Air Force) for a period of 10 years. When this lease ended in 2003, a new search began. AMI initially opted to extend the Tornado ADV lease for another 10 years, but this proved too expensive, so the Italian government turned to the United States in search of a solution.

In March 2001, the Italian government signed a 10-year agreement with the US government for a 5-year (with an option for an additional 5-year) lease of 34 F-16s and four spare airframes.

As an interim solution until the delivery of the Eurofighter Typhoon, it leased 34 F-16A/B (mostly the Block 15 ADF variant) from the US Air Force between 2001 and 2012. As EF2000 Typhoons began to enter service at AMI, the rental agreement for F-16s was gradually terminated.

The F-16A/B ADFs were removed from storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona (aka the aircraft graveyard, see Ref.-1 for details) and underwent 220 days of extensive refurbishment and upgrades before being delivered to Italy. They were transferred to Ogden ALC at Hill AFB, Utah.

Aircraft maintenance officers, instructors and technicians of the Italian Air Force received F-16 maintenance training at Lockheed Martin facilities in Fort Worth, Texas.

The aircraft were delivered to AMI between 2003-2004.

The aircraft supplied to Italy had a standard ADF (Air Defense Fighter) configuration. All aircraft were fitted with upgraded Pratt & Whitney F100-220E engines and underwent the Falcon-Up structural improvement program. A number of weapon systems were also shipped to AMI for use with F-16s, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

In May 2012, AMI removed the last F-16 from service and terminated the leasing agreement. Ironically, AMI made history as the first air force to phase out the F-16 from service.

Italy; What did he gain by leasing Tornado ADV and F-16A/B ADF? Therefore, why should we consider Italy successful?

Italy leased 24 Tornado ADVs and subsequently 34 F-16A/B ADFs between 1993-2012; It has succeeded in protecting its airspace by incurring reasonable leasing costs for approximately 20 years, rather than purchasing a new aircraft type and making an additional investment.

If Italy had chosen the procurement solution instead of leasing aircraft, Italy would have had to use and maintain an aircraft system that he would no longer need after the EF Typhoon entered the inventory for approximately 50 years. Italy chose not a costly solution, but a practical, rational and economical one, and implemented it successfully.

Reference

1. The World's 2nd Largest Air Power is Actually an "Airplane Graveyard"

https://strasam.org/savunma/havacilik-ve-uzay-sanayii/dunyanin-2inci-buyuk-hava-gucu-aslinda-bir-ucak-mezarligi-1837