Following Leonardo’s recent delivery of the second C-27J NG tactical transport aircraft, the Slovenian Air Force continues to benefit from the training offered by the Italian Air Force as part of a cooperation agreement between governments. The agreement provides for a progressive training program, from initial to advanced level, dedicated to Slovenian crews destined to operate on the C-27J.
The activities began in June 2023 at the 46th Air Brigade in Pisa, within the International Training Centre (ITC), where a dynamic flight simulator is available, capable of realistically reproducing flight dynamics and supporting training safely.
After the initial phase, the ITC instructors spent a period of about four months at the Maribor base in Slovenia to consolidate the preparation of the crews directly on site through flight activities. At the beginning of 2026, the same crews started a further training phase, again supported by the instructor staff of the International Training Centre.
In the first days of January, at the base of Cerklje ob Krki — the main operational headquarters of the Slovenian Air Force — the advanced module of the program began. This phase will allow Slovenian pilots to acquire the necessary qualifications to carry out complex missions, such as low-altitude navigation, search and rescue operations and airdrop activities, in accordance with the established procedures.
The initiative is part of the broader framework of cooperation between the respective governments and between the Italian Air Force and the Slovenian Air Force. In this context, the contribution of the 46th Air Brigade is confirmed as decisive: a training capacity of recognized excellence, expressed both at Pisa Airport and through activities conducted directly in Slovenian territory, which ensures high training standards and fully consistent with operational needs. A commitment that, in addition to ensuring the effectiveness of the training course, feeds a continuous exchange of experiences and skills, strengthening interoperability and contributing to the development of increasingly modern, integrated skills ready to respond to current challenges.
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