US nuclear weapons in Italy

Italy hosts the largest share of US nuclear weapons in Europe: an estimated 35 B61 gravity bombs split between Aviano Air Base, where they would be delivered by the US Air Force's own F-16 wing, and Ghedi Air Base, where Italian Tornado crews hold the national dual-capable mission. Both sites have been progressively upgraded for the modernized B61-12.

The Aeronautica Militare is transitioning the Ghedi role from the Tornado to the F-35A, which Italy builds under license at Cameri and which is certified for the B61-12. Italy participates in NATO's Nuclear Planning Group, and the arrangement enjoys broad continuity across governments despite low public visibility.

Like the other host states, Italy is a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the NPT: the weapons remain under US custody in peacetime and could only be released by US and NATO decision. Rome has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Ghedi's new-generation infrastructure is built for the F-35A, which is replacing the Tornado in the national role as certified airframes arrive; Aviano's US-operated mission continues in parallel. Governments across the spectrum have kept the arrangement steady and low-profile, and Rome joined the European deterrence discussions opened by Paris.