Maintenance on the 5th-generation aircraft engine was carried out for the first time at the Propulsion Works Directorate of the 1st RMV in Cameri, by personnel from the Pratt & Whitney company and the Air Force, with the participation of Leonardo.
The replacement of one of the aircraft's engine modules, which began eleven days earlier, concluded on Friday 21 January. F35 AL-007, currently undergoing maintenance inspection at the FACO/MRO&U (Final Assembly and Check-out/Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade) in Cameri. The operation, performed for the first time at the Propulsion Works Directorate of 1st Aircraft Maintenance Department in Cameri and concluded in extremely short time, marks in fact the achievement of an extraordinary objective for Italy which, within the scope of the JSF programme, it thus becomes the first country to offer, for aircraft undergoing maintenance at its industrial facility, the capability to replace an engine module.
Up until now, if any of the engine modules needed to be replaced on aircraft undergoing maintenance at the FACO/MRO&U, the entire propulsion system had to be shipped to an operational site, resulting in significant operational and logistical costs, as well as transport risks.
To overcome such limitations, following a feasibility and opportunity analysis carried out, as part of the Italian Military Representation of Arlington, the IV Department General Secretariat of Defence and National Armaments Directorate had issued, at the start of 2021, a specific requirement (approved by Joint Programme Office F35 in July 2021), to achieve the capability of engine module replacement at the plant Leonardo of Cameri.
The Aeronautical Military, with the reoccurrence of the problem, has identified a definitive solution within its logistics branch. ad interim, which involved 1st Aircraft Maintenance Department.
The Department has identified and prepared a suitable Location at the Propulsion Works Directorate (D.L.P.), where personnel from 1st RMV., of 32nd Wing, from the company Pratt & Whitney e Leonardo.
The engine module replacement constitutes the achievement of a extremely important strategic milestone for Italy and lays the groundwork for developing propulsion system maintenance capability at the 1st RMV, to support aircraft undergoing maintenance at the Leonardo facility and potentially benefit others. Partner Europeans.
It 1st Aircraft Maintenance Department it was established on the Cameri airport site on 1st November 1981 and is under the command of 2nd Logistic Command Division.
It represents the main engineering, maintenance and logistics hub for the Air Force for high-performance aircraft.“Fast jet“.
