An important technical agreement between the Italian Air Force and that of Qatar in the field of training of military pilots, which also involves Leonardo SpA through the International Flight Training School (IFTS) project.
Qatar’s interest in AM capabilities in the “pilot training” sector stems from a series of bilateral activities, culminating in July 2019 with the visit of the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Deputy Chief of Staff to the 61st Wing of Galatina, focused on the T-346A aircraft, on the potential of the ITS (Integrated Training System) and on the training programs of the Air Force at the International Flight Training School.
The five-year Technical Agreement Gov To Gov, signed between the Chiefs of Staff of the respective Air Forces, will govern the legal status and the profiles of responsibility connected to the presence and training at the Italian bases of the Qatari visitors destined for the combat lines of the QEAF.
With this agreement, therefore, military cooperation between the two countries and in particular between the two Air Forces is increased, in which personnel and training systems of the 46th Pisa Air Brigade are already involved in the front line.
The IFTS initiative arises from the strategic collaboration between the Italian Air Force and Leonardo SpA for the construction of an advanced flight training center which will be the international reference in the training of military pilots starting from Phase IV (Advanced / Lead-In to Fighter Training). It is a virtuous example of collaboration and synergy for the country system able to meet the growing demand of the Air Force and partner countries for the training of their pilots (read also here). The project will in fact make it possible to double the current training offer through the creation of a new training center distributed between the Galatina base and that of Decimomannu (read also here).
The partnership between the Italian Air Force, which has a long and consolidated experience in flight training, and Leonardo SpA, leader in integrated training, will allow the former to optimize the cost / effectiveness of flight training and, to the latter , to strengthen its international position as a “Training Service Provider”.