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."
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Not a too big loss, except for spotters.
ReplyDeleteAt least they can save some hour for tornados and typhoons.
I rememnber that just two years ago, to put togheter 4-6 efficent aircraft for a mission (aborted) to afghanistan thay have to be taken from two different squadrons.