Italy boosts combat air fleet

Rome: The Italian government has published its annual multi-year defence planning document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa). This set out to review military funding for the period from 2024-2026.

The Italian MoD will fund the acquisition of 25 F-35s, and 20 M-346s, in addition to 24 Eurofighters whose procurement was announced previously.

The 24 new Eurofighters (known as the F-2000A Typhoon in Italian service), are being procured as a replacement for 26 older Tranche 1 models that are set to be phased out in 2029. The new aircraft will be built to the new Tranche 4 configuration, probably with ECRS.Mk 2 radar, at an estimated cost of €6.9 billion (US $7.7 billion). A ministerial decree approving the acquisition is currently in progress, the spending document says.

Italy will also procure 25 additional F-35 aircraft (at an estimated cost of €7 billion ($7.8 billion), consisting of 15 conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A models for the Italian Air Force and 10 short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs platforms, at least five of which will go to the Italian Navy. This will bring the Italian Joint Strike Fighter fleet to 115 aircraft (including 20 for the Navy), just 16 short of the planned 131 aircraft total.

Phase 1, Phase 2a and the most recent tranche of 35 Phase 2b aircraft brought the total to 90 aircraft, and the new aircraft form part of a new Phase 3. Phase 2b included updates and logistical support out to 2032, as well as new bases at Decimomannu and Grottaglie.

Some €1.9 billion ($2.1 billion) had already been allocated to support the F-35 order, plus €60 million ($67 million) for infrastructure improvements at Grottaglie air base, which is being prepared to host the Italian Navy’s F-35Bs.

The government’s new documents show that a programme has been launched to complete the preparation of the ITS Trieste Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) to allow it to operate the F-35B, allowing it to operate as an ‘Alternate Carrier Vessel’ when the ITS Cavour is not available.

The Italian Air Force will also receive 20 new M-346 aircraft (known locally as the T-346A). Five will augment the 18 aircraft now operated by the 61st Wing and the International Flight Training School (IFTS), while 15 will be assigned to the Frecce Tricolori as replacements for the team’s 40 year old MB339PANs.

The spending document also notes that a payment of €550 million (US $611 million) has been committed to the sixth-generation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with the UK and Japan. This investment “aims to guarantee” Italy’s position in the international GCAP programme and to provide an ‘entry ticket’ for local industry access to final development of the new fighter.