Italian Air Force Update and Topic

[JFoulke]

During the month of April, the ex-director of the office for the Aeronautic Armaments Francesco Langella (he was in charge till the end of March) has given an interview talking about the projects for the Italian Air Force.
He talked about a new variant of the C-27 cargo plane called EC27 Jedi II that would be un upgrade of the already in line Jedi I, the Jedi I has been used already in Afganistan as Aerial Electronic Warfare platform.
The new version should get better overall performance and new mission suite.

He talked also about the new UAV P2HH giving some infos about the upgrades compared to the P1HH.
The new aircraft will have better performance, endurance and max operational altitude,

These two are the main topics, but he also talked about the upgrade of the software for the EF2000 that would allow the aircrafts to use Paveway IV ordinance (Italy has 90 EFA and still need to get 6)

Has been made a proposal of acquisition of new 15 M346 and also the simulators for such aircrafts.

Also a new project should start in the near future for a new Scout Helicopters common to all the armed forces but also all the police forces.

A friend of mine has made a video discussing about these, if you want to take a look is appreciated

 

[SolarisKenzo]

2 more G550 were delivered to the Italian MoD, with 2 already operational and 6 more ordered.
Italian Air Force will operate a fleet of 10 G550:
-6 CAEW
-2 AISREW
-2 EC-37



Italian MoD also confirmed the decision to gradually convert the whole c27j line in Spec-Ops roles, turning the planes into Jedi and Praetorian versions ( EW and Gunship )



General Portolano, National Director of Armaments, met the swiss defence Minister Viola Ahmerd and confirmed that at least 24 f35 for the Swiss Air Force will be built by the italian f35 assembly line in Cameri.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

Six KC-46 for the Air Force

Nuovi tanker per l'Aeronautica Militare

Novità per i tanker destinati alla Aeronautica Militare che saranno sei Boeing KC-46A Pegasus

aresdifesa.it

 

[swerve]

Six KC-46 for the Air Force

Nuovi tanker per l'Aeronautica Militare

Novità per i tanker destinati alla Aeronautica Militare che saranno sei Boeing KC-46A Pegasus

aresdifesa.it

Interesting. They considered buying two KC-46 & modifying the four KC-767 to the same standard, but that was rejected as impractical & instead they're buying six KC-46 & returning the KC-767s. Dunno what Boeing will do with 'em.

 

[Ananda]

returning the KC-767s. Dunno what Boeing will do with 'em.

Those KC-767 if not mistaken already converted as freighter capabilities also.

KC-767 Aerial Refuelling Tanker / Transport Aircraft - Airforce Technology

The Boeing 767 tanker transport aircraft, designated KC-767 for the US Air Force, is a high-performance version of the Boeing…

www.airforce-technology.com

The market for converted 767 freighter is big. This is in fact why Boeing still hold 767 lines open. I do believe Boeing will not have much problem to recondition them as full freighter for cargo base market.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

Correct, KC767A has cargo/passenger capabilities.


More infos about the KC-46s

Italy Will Buy Six KC-46 Tankers To Replace Its KC-767As

Italy to be a new Boeing KC-46A operator. The new Pegasus tankers will be designated KC-767B. The DPPD (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa)

theaviationist.com

 

[SolarisKenzo]

Poggio Dart 22, with the participation of USA, Greece, Turkey and Italy going on over the Adriatic Sea ( Northern Italy )

Greek, Turkish, Italian And U.S. Combat Aircraft Take Part In NATO Exercise PODA 22

Poggio Dart 2022 is currently underway in northern Italy. Organized by the NATO Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACC), based at Poggio Renatico

theaviationist.com

Image: AMI

 

[SolarisKenzo]

Italian MoD and OCCAR signed the contract for the procurement of 10 shorad batteries based on the Camm-ER missile.

CAMM-ER contract signed - EDR Magazine

On 28th November 2022, the OCCAR-EA Director, Matteo Bisceglia, together with the Managing Director of MBDA Italy Mr. Lorenzo Mariani,

www.edrmagazine.eu

 

[ngatimozart]

Italian MoD and OCCAR signed the contract for the procurement of 10 shorad batteries based on the Camm-ER missile.

CAMM-ER contract signed - EDR Magazine

On 28th November 2022, the OCCAR-EA Director, Matteo Bisceglia, together with the Managing Director of MBDA Italy Mr. Lorenzo Mariani,

www.edrmagazine.eu

Didn't see where it said 10, however are there any more details on the system? The UK Army have their system Based on CAMM(L) known as Sky Shield.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

Didn't see where it said 10, however are there any more details on the system? The UK Army have their system Based on CAMM(L) known as Sky Shield.

The english version unfortunately doesnt point out the numbers, I'll link you an italian website where you can find more details about the systems and their price:

OCCAR sigla con MBDA Italia il contratto per i missili CAMM-ER destinati all'Esercito Italiano ed Aeronautica Militare

Sottoscritto il contratto per la produzione dei missili CAMM-ER per i sistemi di difesa aerea Grifo dell'Esercito e MAADS dell'Aeronautica

aresdifesa.it

Launchers should come in the standard 8-cells mounted on truck.

I have, however, no idea om the numbers of launchers in every battery, or other Infos about the systems...

 

[ngatimozart]

The english version unfortunately doesnt point out the numbers, I'll link you an italian website where you can find more details about the systems and their price:

OCCAR sigla con MBDA Italia il contratto per i missili CAMM-ER destinati all'Esercito Italiano ed Aeronautica Militare

Sottoscritto il contratto per la produzione dei missili CAMM-ER per i sistemi di difesa aerea Grifo dell'Esercito e MAADS dell'Aeronautica

aresdifesa.it

Launchers should come in the standard 8-cells mounted on truck.

I have, however, no idea om the numbers of launchers in every battery, or other Infos about the systems...

Thanks, does sound like the UK Sky Shield / Sky Sabre or whatever they call it. It's 8 cells on a MAN truck, a control truck and a Giraffe radar.

 

[swerve]

I think the Italians will continue to use their own systems.

The Italian version speaks of it being integrated into SAMP/T, & with the Sirius command & control system & Kronos 3D Land radar. It says the Italian air force & army Spada systems have recently been upgraded (at least, some of them) with Sirius & Kronos, & the CAMM-ER missiles & launchers will replace Aspide missiles & radars.

MBDA speaks of EMADS, a modular system encompassing both the British & Italian systems, but I can't help wondering if there's so much modularity that there's almost no commonality. As far as I can see what it shares with Sky Sabre those parts of CAMM-ER which are shared with the basic CAMM, & probably the launcher. System architecture? No idea.

It says six batteries (sei batterie) for the army (esercito) & four 'complete systems' for the air force (quattro sistemi completi da parte dell’Aeronautica Militare).

 

[SolarisKenzo]

RID Rivista Italiana Difesa

MBDA CAMM ER: una linea di assemblaggio finale anche in Italia

www.rid.it

MBDA announces a new missile production-line in Italy.
CAMM-ER missiles bought by italian MoD will be built there.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

L'Aeronautica Militare Italiana ritira dal servizio i Predator A Plus

Dopo 18 anni ed oltre trentamila ore volate si conclude il servizio attivo della linea MQ-1C o Predator A Plus dell'Aeronautica Militare

aresdifesa.it

Italian Air Force retires the MQ-1 Predator after 18 years.
MQ-9 Reaper remain in service and Is undergoing update to be able to carry payload like the US version.
MQ9s are based in Amendola and Sigonella.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

I'll post here even if Its not really the proper 3d...

Italy and France announced a joint purchase of 700 Aster 30 missiles for 2 Billion euros.

La Difesa smentisce l'acquisto dei missili Aster-30: «Nessun contratto in materia di forniture militari»

La Difesa smentisce l'acquisto dei missili Aster-30: «Nessun contratto in materia di forniture militari». Non trova conferma, dunque, l'indiscrezione del quotidiano transalpino...

www.leggo.it

 

[SolarisKenzo]

More signs that Italy is going to buy a new airlifter.
After the ( not officially confirmed ) deal with Sweden:

Sweden replacing old C-130Hs with Italian C-130J airlifters

The Swedish defense ministry has decided not to upgrade its ageing C-130H airlifter, opting instead for the purchase of newer Italian C-130J transport aircraft. This was revealed by the defense ministry in the latest budget document update. As detailed, the replacement is planned to be a gradu

defbrief.com

Now rumors from Greece ( with confirmations from Greek MoD ):

Greece set to buy six Italian C-130J Super Hercules

The Greek prime minister ordered the purchase of six second-hand C-130J Super Hercules from Italy, given the extremely low operational availability of the Helle

www.aviacionline.com

La Grecia interessata ad acquistare C-130J italiani?

Atene, alle prese con la critica situazione della sua linea trasporti C-130H, ha chiesto a Roma la cessione di sei C-130J

aresdifesa.it

Talks within italian air force confirmed that the MoD is currently evaluating the possible options.
My two cents based on what I was able to understand from insiders and from official statements about cargo fleet:
- C27s are going to be converted for Special Forces operations and wont perform cargo anymore
- c130Js fleet will be reduced to only 1 group
- 2 new groups will be created with the newly aquired machines

And, regarding the new airlifter:
- Likely to be an aircraft already in production and used by NATO
- Possibly bigger than C130j
- No need for a full-strategic airlifter
- Only European and American/allies planes will be considered, the other are not even going to be evaluted

My 2 cents:
- Airbus A400m ( likely )
- second hand c17s ( less likely )
- Mitsubishi C2s ( unlikely )

 

[swerve]

C-390 is a bit bigger than a C-130, has been ordered by two NATO air forces (with Portugal scheduled to get its first this month, last I heard) & selected by a third (the Netherlands wants 5) so it fits everything except "Only European and American/allies planes", unless you think that being technically allied to the USA via the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (aka the Rio treaty) qualifies.

A400M would fit in with allies better, though.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

C-390 is a bit bigger than a C-130, has been ordered by two NATO air forces (with Portugal scheduled to get its first this month, last I heard) & selected by a third (the Netherlands wants 5) so it fits everything except "Only European and American/allies planes", unless you think that being technically allied to the USA via the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (aka the Rio treaty) qualifies.

A400M would fit in with allies better, though.

The Brazilian plane was excluded from evaluation.
At least, that's the info I have.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

The italian defence Minister visited Leonardo's Helicopter division in Vergiate, Milan.
The AW-249 was officially revealed.


Some photos of the new attack helicopters


The AW 249 is quite big compared to its predecessor, and will use many of the a-129 Mangusta's latest equipments, such as the Rafael TOPLITE Targeting Systems, Spike missiles and the 20mm gun.
The program will probably consist of 48 helicopters for the italian army, excluding the prototypes and pre-series.
It is supposed to enter service in 2025-2026 and the program is aimed to give the italian armed forces an attack helicopter relatively cheap ( as I said, to lower the costs many mature techs will be used ) and easily usable from Naval units.

Pictures from: MinDef

 

[SolarisKenzo]

Yesterday was the 100th birthday of the Italian Air Force
Tanti auguri!





72 aircrafts flew during the Air parade that was held in Rome, including f35s, EFA, M-346, G550 caew, kc-767 and many more...