Italy’s MoD wants more F-35s and Typhoons combat aircraft and M-346 advanced trainer/LIFTs
The Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is pursuing a larger fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs and the replacement of older Eurofighter Typhoons alongside additional M-346 advance trainer/Lead-In Fighter Training aircraft, according to the recently unveiled Defence multi-year planning document (DPP, Documento Programmatico Pluriennale) 2024-2026,
F-35 JSF
“At present, in consideration of the changed geopolitical scenario and the potential operational implications, a further phase of the program called (Phase) 3 has been planned,” the document says about the latest developments of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme, including aircraft, systems, sites and support for both the Italian Air Force and Navy.
The Italian MoD has laid down plans for “the acquisition of 25 further aircraft and related engines, equipment, periodic updating and logistical support until 2035, bringing the national fleet to a total of 115 aircraft,” the DPP says, adding that the overall budget requirement for the new batch of aircraft is estimated at €7.0 billion.
The additional 25 aircraft are divided into 15 F-35As and 10 F-35Bs, of which those in the so-called conventional version (CTOL, Conventional Take-Off Landing) are intended for the Air Force while those in the STOVL (Short Take-Off Vertical Landing) version will be equally split between Air Force and Navy.
“Although this size is still lower than the initial target of 131 aircraft, authorized by the Parliament in 2009 and still corresponding to the operational needs of the Armed Forces,” the DPP highlights, “the increase will improve Italy’s geopolitical positioning in the European security context and will keep the costs of the European hub in Cameri consistent with the plant in the USA. An additional site (the Trieste LHD) will also be activated.”
According to the new DPP, the previous phases (1, 2a, 2b) of the programme, financed with funds from the ordinary Defense Budget, led to the acquisition of the 90 planned machines (60 F-35A and 30 F-35B), of which the last phase launched during 2022 for a total requirement of 7 billion euros, regards 35 aircraft, related engines, equipment, periodic updates and logistical support until 2032, with two new sites being added to the Amendola and Ghedi air bases for the Aeronautica Militare and the STOVL Cavour aircraft carrier for Marina Militare. The DPP confirms the new two sites being respectively the Grottaglie naval air station and the Decimomannu air base.
With the publication of the 2023 Report last July, the Italian Air Force also highlighted that the units and deployment bases of the 5th generation machine are not only the 6th and 32nd Wing respectively on the air bases of Ghedi and Amendola but also the 156th Squadron reconstituted on the USAF air base of Luke in Arizona, to which the F-35A machines are assigned, while the F-35B aircraft are assigned to the 13th Squadron at Amendola.
The Navy will also benefit from the strengthening of the F-35 component, with the procurement, as anticipated above, of an additional five machines in the STOVL version, which will be added to the 15 already in the acquisition phase, all assigned to the GRUPAER, (Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati), the only Navy’s fixed-wing unit, based on the Grottaglie air station. Currently, eight F-35Bs belonging respectively to the Italian Navy (six) and Air Force (two) are embarked as part of the sea-based national expeditionary 5th generation aircraft component on board the aircraft carrier STOVL Cavour engaged in the Indo-Pacific campaign. During the latter, the Italian Navy announced to have reached the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the national sea-based expeditionary capability. The Italian Navy is expected to receive two more aircraft by the end of the year.
As for the preparation of the sites hosting the F-35, in addition to Grottaglie, for which the DPP 2024-2026 indicates additional funding (€ 60 millions) for the 2024-26 timeframe, the MoD submitted last 11 September the multi-year programme for approval regarding the “Site Activation of the LHD Trieste for the adaptation to JSF standards for the conduct of embarked operations with F-35B aircraft.”
This to allow the LHD Trieste to act as “an Alternate Carrier Vessel in the event of unavailability of the Cavour ship”. The ship is expected to be delivered by the industrial consortium including Fincantieri as prime and Leonardo, in November 2024.
The multi-year programme requesting € 172 million is structured in two Phases the first of which already funded with € 50 million, includes technical-structural activities necessary for the physical adaptation of the unit to the F-35B standards and “technical programmatic inspection activities (Design Review – DR, Site Activation Task Force – SATF, Sustainment Readiness Review – SRR, etc.) for the verification of the various modification projects.”
Phase 2 “is aimed at completing the adaptation of the unit, providing for the acquisition/installation of aircraft landing aid systems, as well as certification activities and acquisition of an appropriate supply of spare parts and the related logistical support.”
According to the latest plans, EDR On-Line understood, Phase 1 activities are expected to be conducted during the first-year warranty docking works.
Eurofighter Typhoon
On last July, Italy’s MoD presented to the Parliament the multi-year programme related to the acquisition of 24 Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft (F-2000 according to the Air Force designation) and the technical-logistical support of the entire fleet. The overall forecasted cost of the programme is estimated at € 7,477.3 million, starting in 2024. The 24 aircraft of the 4th Tranche will replace the 26 Eurofighters of the 1st Tranche whose phase-out is expected by 2029 according to the DDP 2024-26. Being financed through funds from the ordinary Defense Budget and the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT), the Eurofighter programme as a whole received therefore a necessary integration of € 690 million. The first phase of the programme includes the start of the acquisition of the 24 aircraft, which configuration hasn’t been released yet, and the launch of the development and integration of new technologies also made available for the in-service platforms. As anticipated, the programme requires significant funding linked to the development of new technologies to be applied to the aircraft already in service but also to their in-service support for a long time to come.
M-346
Italy’s MoD has also launched the programme for the replacement of the MB-339A aircraft in service with the National Aerobatic Team (PAN, Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale) with the M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer (T-346A), and the completion of the provision with these aircraft for the Phase 4 of the Italian Air Force and the International Fighter Training School (IFTS) training programme.
The simultaneous announcement of the selection of the advanced training aircraft/Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) produced by Leonardo for the PAN and its presentation in a special livery designed by Pininfarina to make the Frecce Tricolori performances even more spectacular, was given during the event held on 12 September in the presence of the Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto. The M345 High Efficiency Trainer was initially indicated as the MB-339A PAN replacement, but the Italian Air Force subsequently opted for the M-346, which would be more suitable for aerobatic flight formation.
On the same day, the Ministry of Defence presented to the Parliament the multi-year programme regarding the procurement of 20 additional T-346 aircraft to be assigned to the 313th Aerobatic Training Group based in Rivolto and to the 61st Wing (212th Flight Group/IFTS) in Decimomannu, including the related technical-logistical support.
The DDP 2024-26 refers to a total acquisition programme of 38 machines of which 23 intended for the advanced training of Italian and foreign pilots at the IFTS. Eighteen aircraft are already in line and five to be supplied, to which are added the 15 aircraft for the PAN, – which corresponds to the 20 in the process of being contracted – as well as the related logistical support and in-service support of the entire fleet. This includes the ground-based training systems.
According to information made available on 23 September, the programme is conceived as a multiyear effort with a timeframe of 15 years (2024-2038). No information were released on deliveries timeline, the funding request being for an estimated € 1.6 billion of which 63 million are already allocated on the Defence budget for the current year. Follow-on funding batches will have to be approved by the Parliament.
The allocated budget is for the Phase one of the programme regarding preliminary procurement activities, the development and integration of new undisclosed equipment and the obsolescence cure for systems already installed on board in-service aircraft.
Phase two regards an incremental procurement focused on the “production” of 15 T-346s in the PAN version for which studies are being assigned to develop new smoke pods alongside the procurement of systems and ground equipment, spare parts for the in-service support, personnel training, ground and aircraft accommodation facilities for Rivolto and Decimomannu air bases. Phase two also regards the supply of five new T-346s, “which are going to add to the current fleet”. No further details were released on aircraft configuration, but EDR On-line understood it is the same of the current in-service aircraft – in particular the two cockpit layout with three multifunction displays – alongside customization for the Frecce Tricolori and obsolescence cure.
As widely demonstrated in exercise activities in Italy and abroad, with the implementation of new operational and training capabilities under development by Leonardo, the M-346 has a long future life that can be further exploited by Italy, as an asset for national air defence, against conventional and asymmetric threats such as drones.
The DPP 2024-26 also provides information on the programme for the T-345 HET (High Efficiency Trainer), intended to be used for the basic training phase of military pilots, without however providing timeframes for its entry into service. The programme, as specified by the DPP, also includes funding dedicated to the in-service support, the integrated logistics support (ILS) of the flight line, the acquisition and support of training preparatory equipment such as simulators (Flight Training Device / Virtual Reality System – FTD / VRS), and that for the creation of the needed infrastructures for the efficient use of the integrated training system. The programme has funds allocated by the MIMIT for a total of € 514.38 million between 2024 and 2037, in addition to the already assigned contracts for the procurement of 18 T-345.
With regard to the MB-339 line, the new DDP highlights the acquisition of spare parts and maintenance activities necessary for the general overhaul of the fleet’s propulsion systems, with € 129 million funding allocated to the overall support of the same fleet in the 2024-2029 timeframe. Last July, the Italian MoD unveiled a determination to contract process with Piaggio Aero Industries concerning the industrial technical-logistical support for the general overhaul and purchase of the necessary spare parts for the fleet of Viper Mk362-43 turbojet engines for the MB-339 fleet, which ensures training in Phases 2 and 3 of the Italian Air Force syllabus and for foreign pilots attending the 61st Wing.
Photos courtesy Italian Air Force, Italian Navy, E. Govoni
