Search This Blog

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Italian budget blow hammers air force projects

Several of the Italian air force’s requested equipment acquisitions and capability updates have been shelved in Italy’s 2006 defence budget, including a long-awaited programme to acquire a common aircraft type to meet national airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C), maritime patrol and airborne ground surveillance requirements.

The Boeing 737 had been widely tipped as the likely aircraft to provide airborne early-warning and to also replace Italy’s current Bregnet Atlantic 1 maritime patrol aircraft. The US company is believed to have been preparing an offer of three 737 AEW&C platforms, plus one option, and between six and eight P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft. While the loss of the expected AEW&C and ground surveillance elements could be partially offset by NATO’s E-3 AWACS and future Alliance Ground Surveillance fleets, Rome’s continued failure to fund a replacement for the Atlantic will pose more operational difficulties.

Read more

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.

The material is being made available in an effort to advance understanding arms trade activities, for non-profit research and educational purposes only.

I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

This is a completely non-commercial site for private personal use. No fee is charged, and no money is made off of the operation of this site.