DECIMOMANNU AIR BASE, Italy -- The U.S. Air Force and the Italian Air Force have partnered to execute an undergraduate flying training program Small Group Tryout at the International Flight Training School, Decimomannu Air Base, Italy.
Ten U.S. students who first attended civilian flight school-led Initial Pilot Training are now enrolled at the International Flight Training School to complete a 133-day Basic Jet Training course in the T-346A Master Jet Trainer. Upon graduation, they will earn their U.S. Air Force pilot wings.
“This initiative is expected to provide valuable data for optimizing pilot training methods as we prepare to ramp up the T-7A,” said Col. Corey Hogue, Capability Requirements Division Chief, Air Education and Training Command. “Not only will we gather data on the effectiveness of our proposed syllabus, but we can also validate the feasibility of sending trainees directly from IPT to train in a modern training aircraft, like the T-7A Redhawk.”
“Sending these 10 students to Italy is the closest way we have to test the syllabus we have designed,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew Leard, Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements and International Affairs. “After receiving some data and seeing how well the students are performing, I’m pretty excited.”
After completion of the Basic Jet Training course, some students will be selected to complete advanced training at Decimomannu Air Base as fighter pilot candidates. These students will undergo an additional 135-day T-346 course before progressing to U.S. fighter formal training units. The remaining students will train stateside in mobility, special operations, or command and control platforms.
This marks the first instance of students progressing directly from civilian-instruction IPT to fast-jet training using a single military trainer. The exchange provides an opportunity to assess the future of the service’s undergraduate pilot training program, which aims to produce 1,500 new pilots annually by streamlining the pipeline for combat aircraft from the current 528 days to approximately 364.
The effort will also help define potential roles for the T-7A in future pilot training pipelines, including assessing performance metrics for optimization, comparing training outcomes across platforms, and evaluating advanced simulation capabilities for integration into real-world training scenarios.
This initiative, combined with coordination with Formal Training Units, is designed to increase the throughput of pilots advancing to their operational platforms while enhancing the overall quality and readiness of Airmen entering the force.
The program will conclude in June 2026, providing AETC with valuable lessons to refine the pilot training pipeline and fully leverage the capabilities of the T-7A.
The first T-7A aircraft is set to arrive at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in early December.