First European-built F-35 has maiden flight

CAMERI, Italy, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The first F-35 Lightning II assembled outside the United States has performed its maiden flight in Italy, Lockheed Martin reports.

The aircraft, designated AL-1, was built by Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi manufacturing in cooperation with Lockheed Martin at its final assembly and check out facility in Cameri, Italy, and flown from a nearby air base.

The flight lasted about one hour but additional details of it were not relased.

"The first flight of AL-1 is a monumental achievement thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi and Lockheed Martin teammates," said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Program general manager. "Italy's 'primo volo' (first flight) sets a firm foundation for Italy's F-35 program and future opportunities for the Cameri FACO."

The Cameri final assembly and check out facility, or FACO, is owned by the Italian government and operated by Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi in association with Lockheed Martin. Its F-35 production operations began in July 2013 to assemble F-35 A and B variants for Italy and for the Netherlands.

Lockheed Martin said the Cameri site is to act as a logistics support center for F-35s in Europe.