Two F-35As assigned to 13° Gruppo undergo final checks before taxiing for a mission at Amendola Air Base.

This shot shows the squadron, wing and national insignia of an Italian F-35A.

Pilot and crew chief during a simulated scramble. Italian F-35A Lightning Ils were first assigned to QRA duty on March 1, 2018.

Two F-35As taxiing at Amendola before an evening mission.

Pilot and crew-chief during pre-flight checks.

Close-up front view of an F-35A with the nose-mounted window of the AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System.

An F-35A taxis out from a shelter.

A 13° Gruppo pilot signs paperwork for the crew chief after a mission. His flying suite - like the helmet - is specifically designed for the F-35.

Take-off from Amendola made easy by the immense power generated by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, the most powerful fighter engine ever developed, rated at 191.3kN with afterburner.

The F-35A cockpit is dominated by the large touch screen display with only a few switches, a side stick controller and the throttle.