Aeronautica Militare Italiana - Italie

Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa said the aircraft would be used for surveillance missions and not for bombing missions.

"The planes will obviously not be used for bombing purposes, but in observation operations, the same way German Tornadoes are being used there," La Russa said.

La Russa had said earlier this year that the deployment of the aircraft could be shelved due to budget shortfalls.

Italy's military chief of staff, Gen. Vincenzo Camporini, said the aircraft could now be operational in Afghanistan by mid-October. Italian wire agency ANSA reported that the government had freed up 13 million euros ($18.9 million) to cover the deployment for the remainder of 2008.

foxkilo02 a écrit

Par contre, ils ne renoncent pas au projet lui même…

The first of 14 Italian air Force Alenia Aermacchi MB-339CD trainers being upgraded to Batch 2 standard has completed flight testing and is ready for delivery to the 212th Flight Group of the 61st Wing based in Galatina, south-east Italy, where it will undergo acceptance trials. The deliveries will be completed next year. The €41 million ($55 million) upgrade contract is delivering new avionics and simulation capabilities including identification friend or foe, communications, positioning and night vision systems, as well as a digital map, crash data recorder, emergency locator transmitter, new integrated autonomous air combat manoeuvring suite, plus embedded training simulation (including simulated sensors and virtual tactical scenarios). The 61st Wing is the Italian candidate unit to host the future Advanced European Jet Pilot Training headquarters. Alenia Aermacchi is providing all the MB-339s, including the A version used for advanced training by the 213th Flight Group.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/10/13/317306/first-upgraded-mb-339cd-ready-for-italian-air-force.html

Extension of the leasing for a part of the F-16 ADF (Air Defence Fighter) Block 15 for Italy Air Force. Reported by press sources still not confirmed, by citing Lockheed Martin Business Development F-35 Office. Italian Ministry of Defense would seem to be currently negotiating with the USA a 18 months agreement for the 37th Wing Trapani-Birgi fighters, generally employed in the air defense missions expecting for the Eurofighter line filling. "The starting contract -Lockheed Martin said- was signed on March 15th 2001 for five years, with an option for other five until February 2011. Until now fighters have reached the milestone of 33,000 flight hours. Three airplanes on 34 initially supplied lost in two crashes, one in February and the other in May 2008. F-16 Fighting Falcon programme by Italy provides for 2009 an investment equal to 31.4 million Euros.

http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1095829&pagina_chiamante=corpo%3Dindex.php

Dix-sept ans après la guerre du golfe, quatre chasseurs italiens Tornado retournent en mission, cette fois ci en Afghanistan. Les appareils ont quitté lundi la base aérienne de Ghedi, en Lombardie, pour être utilisé dans des missions de reconnaissance. Pour ce faire, les appareils ont été modifiés et doté d’un « pod » spécial, capable de prendre des photos aériennes à haute résolution. Pour apaiser les craintes de l’opposition parlementaire, les appareils ne seront pas armés, hormis en ce qui concerne les systèmes d’auto-défense. Les Tornado seront basés à l’aéroport de Mazar-y-Sharif. Le général John Craddock, commandant de l’OTAN, demande des moyens supplémentaires à l’Italie.?

Italian air force to receive ATR 72 maritime patrol aircraft
By Craig Hoyle

Italy's defence ministry has ordered four ATR 72 maritime patrol aircraft from Alenia Aeronautica, with deliveries scheduled to commence to the nation's air force in 2012.

To be equipped with Selex Galileo's ATOS mission system, which includes a Seaspray maritime search radar, electro-optical multi-sensor turret and datalink, the new aircraft will be flown by mixed crews from the air force and the Italian navy, says Alenia.

The new type will augment the Italian air force's current maritime patrol aircraft inventory, which according to Flight's MiliCAS database comprises 16 Dassault-Breguet ATL-1 Atlantics.

Alenia Aeronautica has previously delivered seven modified ATR 42s to the Italian customs agency and coastguard for maritime patrol duties. The Turkish navy was its lone previous customer for the special-mission ATR 72, having signed for 10 anti-submarine warfare aircraft (artist's impression below). The ATR 72MP is also currently on offer to additional potential operators including Greece and the United Arab Emirates.

The Italian Government announced December 2008 that Italian Air Force will receive 500 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB I) with an expected total value of € 84 million. The Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) System is the next generation of low-cost and low collateral-damage precision strike weapons for internal and external carriage. Because of its small size and robust performance, the SDB I weapon system, which includes the four-bomb capacity BRU-61/A carriage system, greatly increases the mission capability of current and future platforms. Boeing delivered the first production SDB in May 2006 and entered full-rate production in December 2006. Currently, more than 24,000 weapons and 2,000 carriages are in the USAF procurement and budget plans. The Air Force is investing $1.2 billion for production of the system, with deliveries planned beyond 2015. The all-weather SDB I weapon system is compatible with every U.S. as well as most of the Western fighter and bomber aircraft. It has a standoff range of 60 nautical miles. At 71 inches long, the 6-foot-long, 250-pound class weapon quadruples the number of weapons each aircraft can carry. The SDB I weapon system began combat operations in October 2006 on the F-15E Strike Eagle. The SDB I is built by Boeing at its lean manufacturing facility in St. Charles, Mo., however the Italian version will be build by Oto Melara (Finmeccanica Group) through its business unit Breda Meccanica Bresciana. The systems will be integrated on Tornado IDS. Integration on the EF2000 Eurofighter Typhoon is also planned for the Tranche 3.

http://www.defpro.com/news/details/4665

At 12:00 on Monday 5th January 2009, Italy’s 36th Wing, based in Gioia de Colle (…) The Eurofighter F2000 aircraft was only supplied to the 36th Wing on 1st October 2007 and both the flight crew and base underwent an intense period of training and achieved the ambitious goal of a thousand hours of flight to ensure they were ready for January 2009. The 36th Wing consists of two flying squadrons and will provide air defence 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will compliment the 4th, 5th and 37th Wings who are already defending the air space of the southern Mediterranean.

http://www.defpro.com/news/details/4764

LockMart Completes Italian C-130J - five years ahead of schedule

The Italian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has met the industrial benefit requirement associated with Italy's acquisition of 22 C-130J aircraft five years ahead of schedule. As a result of Lockheed Martin’s completion of this commitment, more than 70 partnerships within Italy's industrial community were implemented. These projects are projected to provide in excess of $2 billion in long-term economic impact to the Italian economy.

"The work resulting from this industrial return requirement represents yet another positive milestone in Lockheed Martin’s longstanding relationship with Italy and the Aeronautica Militare. Lockheed Martin is proud of the partnerships it has created with the Italian industrial community and looks forward to opportunities to further develop and enhance these relationships," said Ross Reynolds, Lockheed Martin vice president for C-130 programs.

A majority of the projects associated with the Lockheed Martin-Italy industrial return requirement have involved a wide range of Italian companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises. Initiatives included technology transfers, establishment of licenses or direct investment by Lockheed Martin within Italian industry.

"Over the past 40 years, Lockheed Martin has completed more than $40 billion in industrial benefits in more than 37 nations, and we're extremely proud that we have achieved this mutually beneficial accomplishment with Italy," said Larry McQuien, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ vice president for Business Ventures.

Lockheed Martin's C-130 program has a 35-year history with Italy and the Aeronautica Militare. In 1997, the Aeronautica Militare became one of the first customers to purchase and fly the C-130J and its crews have flown over 75,000 flight hours with their fleet contributing significantly to the worldwide total of more than a half-million C-130J flight hours. The strong aeronautical relationship between Italy and Lockheed Martin is continuing in the F 35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program.

Italian budget crunch threatens AMX fleet

The Italian air force could face a near-term degradation of its capabilities - and these could include a cut to its combat and training aircraft fleets because of a rapid and dramatic contraction to its training, maintenance and operational funding.

Air force deputy chief-of-staff Gen Giuseppe Bernadis says Rome's three-year defence budget law for 2009-11 "could have dramatic results on operational capabilities if additional funding, such as that approved in 2009 by the Parliament for out-of-area operations, isn't added in the following budget years".

He adds: "If further contractions in the operational resources continue, we see the concrete risk to dismiss one frontline aircraft component, possibly the [Alenia Aeronautica/Embraer] AMX."

The service's training assets are also likely to be affected, with this only partially compensated by the use of simulators. Bernadis says that the spending reduction trend could require short-term reduction of the Alenia Aermacchi MB-339 fleet, which would also affect the Frecce Tricolori display team. However, the Galatina flying school has been converted to attract international customers, and Bernadis says cadets from Algeria and Greece could undergo instruction this year.

The air force's command and support infrastructure was reorganised last year. This concentrated combat aircraft and air defence batteries under one command; transport aircraft, search-and-rescue and combat SAR forces in another; and special forces and ground protection units, including a dedicated special forces support helicopter unit, in a third.

In the past three years, the air force has reduced its annual flying hours from more than 116,000 to just below 87,500 in 2008. And based on the latest budget reductions, it envisages operating two combat types in the medium to long term, with around 100 each of the Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

"The current [Panavia] Tornado and AMX fleets, respectively of around 95 and 65 aircraft, will be progressively reduced by 2014 to 50 aircraft in each component. These will be gradually replaced in the following years by the JSF," Bernadis says.

Around 60 conventional take-off and landing F-35As and 40 short take-off and vertical landing F-35Bs will be acquired, with the latter variant to be fielded first to re-equip two AMX squadrons, he adds.

As regards Italy's programme commitment to buy 121 Eurofighters, Bernadis says: "The fundamental point of reference is our fixed price cap. Within this limit we expect to be able to acquire around 100 aircraft, which will have primary air defence and secondary air-to-ground capabilities." The type now provides round-the-clock air defence cover from Gioia del Colle and Grosseto air bases, and Tranche 3 contract negotiations continue also involving Germany, Spain and the UK.

In the transport sector, "the long-delayed delivery of the first or couple of [four] Boeing 767 tankers is expected to actually begin at the end of 2009", Bernadis says. Air force crews are preparing for the type's delayed availability using a 767 provided at no cost by Boeing. The service will also by mid-year receive its last of 12 Alenia Aeronautica C-27Js, with the tactical transport having made a successful operational debut in Afghanistan between September 2008 and January 2009.

General Atomics Predator A unmanned air vehicles have logged over 4,250 flight hours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and are now being upgraded. "We expect to receive the first of four Predator Bs by the end of 2009," Bernadis says, with initial operational capability to be declared in 2010 with three aircraft.

Meanwhile, an agreement was recently made with air traffic control and safety agencies to expand controlled areas and flight corridors for UAVs in Italy. This will gradually allow unmanned platforms to fly between Amendola and Decimomannu air bases, expanding training activities and providing maritime surveillance, Bernadis says.

The defence ministry is meanwhile looking to replace the air force's lone Alenia Aeronautica G222VS signals intelligence aircraft with two new intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, which Bernadis says will be "based on [Gulfstream] G550 aircraft". Dubbed the joint airborne multi-sensor multi-mission system, the acquisition is awaiting parliamentary approval.

Four ATR 72MP maritime patrol aircraft are already on order to replace some of the service's Dassault-Breguet ATL-1 Atlantics by 2012. However, these are considered gap-fillers pending the arrival of a more capable platform.

Another important acquisition centres on recapitalising the air force's CSAR/SAR helicopter component. "The contract for the first two CSAR-equipped AgustaWestland AW101s with new engines, avionics and self-protection capabilities is expected to be awarded by the end of 2009," says Bernadis, with 12 to be delivered by 2014. A proposed lease arrangement to replace its Agusta-Bell AB212s with AW139/149s is also under "detailed evaluation", he says.

All contracts for new aircraft will include the provision of on-site maintenance and support services for at least a five-year period, Bernadis notes, "to prevent following budget axes".

The air force's next purchase is likely to be a pending deal for 15 Alenia Aermacchi M-346 advanced jet trainers, which Bernadis expects to be finalised in the first half of this year. Italy will be the first customer for the type, also recently selected by the United Arab Emirates for a 48-aircraft requirement.