Italy is not broke, like Japan we have a big debt but we are also able to pay it, the new governemt is tightening the belt but we will make it.
Talking about future projects:
– F35:There are a lot of pressure to quit or partially reduce the program, but since the second FACO will be in Italy (and is in construction) it is unlikely to happen
– AEW: It is one of the capability Italy is missing and it is linked with the sale of M346 to Israel, we just need to see what the Koreans put on the table.

No other major projects on the way, we need also to remember that we have a lots of troops overseas, more than 4’000 in Afghanistan, 1’000 in Lebanon and we have just dropped more than 700 bombs in Libya.

Regards

I see C27Js and M346 coming their way as long as Selex Radars, I see also Mirages 2000 and maybe in the future Rafales, Helicopters will be split between AgustaWestland and Eurocopters

Regards

The Italian Government has just announced that the Air Force will start precision bombing in Libya, very likely Tornado IDS will be the airplanes involved.

in this region Yes, no SAM there, anyway sarcasme in war times..

as about italy? they had changed their position 4 times in period of 5 days, blah di blah buffons!

just leave french and brits leadig the organisation, Turkeys italy and germany doesn’t look really relevant in terme of operational classified missions inside nato..

as about sweden? lol all those countries willing to join with thier tiny fighting powers seems to crumble right now! any country willing to show the flag isn’t really a help for operational meaning!

Just to be clear in Italy there is just one buffon that unfortunately thanks to his money is the PM, the Lybian crisis has shown that he is a puppet, for what concerns being relevant inside NATO, Italy is now involved in several missions and with a different PM we would have all the skills to lead the mission. Just to understand what we are talking about in terms of buffon the ECRs are making 3 missions a day, the PM has said that we will never shoot a missile, the defence minister and the Chief of Air Force have instead confirmed the suppression of Lybian Air Defences.

Well said. IMO anyone believing that it’s only because US , France and UK and other governments caring so much for the lybian peopels, and caring so much for their wellbeing and protection , they started this little air war ( only ?), needs a serious dose of reality …(oh, you can add to that “care” list the afghan “people” , iraqi “people” , and so on …but we digress):(

I guess that BP and Total are looking for the Lybian Gas, now mostly in ENI hands, that is why Italy has been forced to actively participate in the operation. (it must be said that Berlusconi has been watching the President Napolitano and Defence Minister and Foreign Minister decide), anyway German does not have any major Gas company and decided to stay out. Anyway I guess sooner or later it is time to get rid of Gheddafi.

Based on AMI infos, the US Navy lost 2 F4 in the Tyrrhenean Sea in the 70s to Italian Air Force f104S. Mainly the Navy pilots were trying to pull to much g and ended up in the sea.

The way I see it, based on this topic is that the J10 will be purchased by foreign countries beside Pakistan.

The reason it is that it would not be expensive as western airplanes and even if less performing than the EuroCanards it could be a good deal. The russians have the MiG29 in almost the same category but they are old and the MiG 35 might be expensive so the only problem might be used Su27.
We do not have to forget that China is investing a lot in Africa and so got some diplomatic advantage with the russians, same with semi-rogue states like Myanmar.

probably it will be to expensive for Bolivia that cannot afford the J7 either, if Hugo C wants a hi-low mix and is tired of the F16 maintenance problem I might buy some of them since he bought K8s.