Italy’s “Red Devils” squadron retires the Tornado IDS after over four decades of service and welcomes the advanced F-35A
The 154th Squadron (154° Gruppo) of the 6th Wing (6° Stormo) of the Italian Air Force held the official ceremony on July 2–3 to transition from its historic Panavia Tornado IDS fighter-bombers to the modern F-35A Lightning II. The event took place at Ghedi Air Base in northern Italy, marking the end of an era for Italian combat aviation.
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During the event, the squadron – known as the “Red Devils” – received four fifth-generation fighter jets, already featuring their distinctive visual identity: an arrow on the tail and the emblematic red devil.
To honor the nearly 43 years of Tornado service in the Italian Air Force, one aircraft, registration MM7014, received a special livery created by Aircraft Studio Design.
The paint scheme blends the silhouettes of the Tornado and F-35A, and also includes the squadron’s mascot and the Japanese Imperial flag — the latter referencing the motto “BANZAI – we dive on the target,” adopted during the First Gulf War with the introduction of the “HI DIVE 45°” dive attack profile.
With the transition of the 154th Squadron, the only remaining Italian unit operating the Tornado is the 155th Squadron “Black Panthers,” also based in Ghedi.
This unit remains responsible for crew training and nuclear weapons delivery missions as part of Italy’s commitments to NATO.
The replacement of the Tornado with the F-35A marks not only a technological renewal but also a symbolic milestone in the modernization of Italian air defense, aligning it with the most advanced standards of NATO air forces.
Source and images: Italian Air Force. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
