Italy

IDS/ECR

Italy´s first Tornado was delivered to the 1^st Reparto Manutenzione Velivoli (RMV) - Aircraft Maintenance Unit - based at Cameri on 17^th May 1982. The 154^th Squadron of the 6^th Wing at Ghedi was the first operational unit receiving the new aircraft on 27^th August 1982. This squadron, already devoted to bombing missions, maintained its original mission, while taking on an aerial reconnaissance role. From September 1993 on, the 6^th Wing incorporated a second squadron, namely the 102^nd, transferred from Rimini Air Base and which, in addition to the original operational duties, has been acting as the transition and training unit for the Air Force crews assigned to the Tornado fleet, following the closure of the TTTE at RAF Cottesmore. 

The 156^th Squadron of the 36^th Wing at Gioia del Colle was the second unit to receive a Tornado IDS in June 1982 and continued to perform the TASMO (Tactical Support to Maritime Operations) role, previously covered by the Starfighter. On 23^rd July 1990, the first IDS was delivered to the 155^th Squadron of the 50^th Wing at Piacenza, which undertook the bombing role until 1^st April 1994, when it was designated as the first squadron of the Italian Air Force to be dedicated to the primary SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence) mission, being equipped with the specialised ECR version towards the end of 1994. Following the decision to convert the 36^th Wing to the EF 2000, on 1^st July 2008 the 156^th Squadron has been placed under the command of the 6^th Wing at Ghedi, rationalising the Tornado fleet by concentrating all the IDS variants still in service under one single command on one base.

ADV

In the mid-nineties, the Italian Air Force sought an interim solution to equip itself with an aircraft that would offer a valid defence cover over the nation, resulting in a leasing contract covering the supply of 24 Tornado ADV aircraft, which were made available from the front-line squadrons of the RAF. In February 1995 the first air crews were sent to England for a conversion course at RAF Conningsby and a few months later, on 5^th July 1995, the first aircraft for the 12^th Squadron of the 36^th Wing landed at Gioia del Colle. On 14^th February 1997 the first ADV variant was delivered to 21^st Squadron of the 53^rd Wing at Cameri. In 1999 the Italian Air Force decided to concentrate the ADV fleet on a single base in order to achieve a greater operational efficiency. Consequently, in March 2001 the 21^st Squadron was disbanded and its personnel and aircraft placed under the single control of 12^th Squadron at Gioia del Colle. In 2003, the phased-return of the fighters to the RAF commenced, as the Italian Air Force began to equip itself with a fleet of F-16 fighters.