The Italian Air Force will deploy four AMX fighter-bombers to Afghanistan on Nov. 4.

The aircraft will be based at Herat and take over reconnaissance duties from two Italian Tornado aircraft based at Mazar-e-Sharif.

The AMX aircraft, from the Italian Air Force’s 51st Wing, will deploy from their base at Istrana in northern Italy. Italian AMX fighters participated this summer in the U.S. Green Flag and Red Flag exercises.

“The mission is not changing,” said Gen. Daniele Tei, chief of the Italian Air Force. “Pilots and technicians have been trained and are ready to undertake their mission, as they showed during Green Flag and Red Flag.”

The AMX will take about a month to reach full operational status in Afghanistan, at which time the Tornadoes will return to Italy, an Air Force official said. The AMX aircraft will use the same Rafael RecceLite pods on surveillance missions as used by the Tornadoes.

Italian officials also have said they will have permission to fire their cannons if required, as with the Tornadoes.

The Tornadoes have flown 350 missions in Afghanistan, surveying 800 objectives during 900 flight hours, the Air Force said.

Picture: Rob Vogelaar, ZAPP group