Italian 'Peace Caesar' F-16 Fighting Falcons

Between 2002 and 2004 a total of 30 General Dynamics F-16A and 4 F-16B aircraft were re-generated from AMARC as part of a lease agreement with Italy. Given the name 'Peace Caesar', the agreement, which was signed by the Italian Government on March 15, 2001, called for the lease of 34 operational aircraft for a period of five years. The agreement also included the supply of 3 additional F-16A for the provision of spare parts and re-training of F-104 and Tornado F.3 aircew and the training of the Italian maintenance technicians who would be responsible for keeping the aircraft flying. The reason for aquiring the F-16s was the significant delays being experienced with the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon, which was the type ordered to fulfill the Italian air defence role after the retirement of their Lockheed F-104 Starfighters. The F-16s were to be used as a stop-gap measure until the Typhoon could be delivered and brought up to combat readiness.

After total refurbishment at Hill Air Force Base, UT., which entailed the strengthening of the airframe and the testing, repair and upgrade of the avionic computers and equipment, the aircraft were delivered to the Italian Air Force. The three squadrons to receive the F-16s were 23° Gruppo of the 5 Stormo based at Cervia Air Base, and the 10° Gruppo and 18° Gruppo of the 37 Stormo based at Trapani-Birgi Air Base. On June 28th, 2003 the first three refurbished aircraft (F-16B MM7266, MM7268, MM7269) arrived in Italy (for the 18° Trapani-Birgi Air Base), while two other aircraft which should have been included in this first delivery were delayed due to technical problems. F-16A MM7238 suffered an engine fault and had to divert to North Bay in Canada, the other F-16A, MM7246, stayed with it to provide an escort. After MM7238 had been repaired these two aircraft finally reached Trapani on July 2nd, 2003.

The protracted delays to Typhoon development and production, much of which was due to political and financial disagreement, resulted in the lease agreement being extended for a further 5 years. It wasn't until February 20th, 2004 that the first Italian Air Force Typhoon was handed over at Cameri Air Base for initial training purposes. The Peace Caeser would carry on in the Air Defence role as the Typhoon fleet was introduced and brought up to operational strength.

On April 16th, 2010 23° Gruppo was disbanded, their F-16s were taken by the two remaining squadrons. In July 2012 10° Gruppo transitioned to the EF2000 Typhoon and moved to their new base at Gioia del Colle Air Base. On May 23rd, 2012 Gruppo 18°, the last remaining F-16 squadron of the Italian Air Force officially transitioned over to the EF2000. This event signified the retirement of the F-16 from the Italian Air Force after 8 years of service. During this time 5 were lost to accidents, although these incidents did not suffer any loss of life.

Four waves each consisting of six retiring F-16s have been received at AMARG, two in 2010 and two in 2012. A summary of these arrivals can be seen below;

24 record(s)

For completeness here are the fates of the other 15 Peace Caesar F-16;