Armée Italienne/Forze Armate Italiane

Citation :

Prototype of the new Centauro II will be unveiled at the Eurosatory 2016
May 21, 2016




Prototype of «Centauro II» (c) militarypedia.it
The prototype of the new Centauro II wheeled tank will be unveiled at the Eurosatory 2016 show in Paris.

The «Centauro II» is the latest version. Its fitted with a 120mm smoothbore main gun. The «Centauro 2»vehicle features a new interior layout and based on Freccia 8×8 wheeled Infantry fighting vehicle.

The new Centauro II wheeled tank program would receive €160 million via the 2016 Italian defense budget, that reported by Defense News.


http://defence-blog.com/army/prototype-of-the-new-centauro-ii-will-be-unveiled-at-the-eurosatory-2016-show-in-paris.html

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Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Italian Navy Sixth FREMM ITS Luigi Rizzo Begins Sea Trials
On May 17, ITS Luigi Rizzo cast off at 7.20 a.m. from Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia) for her first sea outing. This activity marks the beginning of the programme of sea trials which will continue until the completion of the ship's outfitting phase. The FREMM frigate is scheduled to be delivered to the Italian Navy in early 2017.






http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2016/05/italian-navy-sixth-fremm-its-luigi.html?m=1

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In less than two years, the Aermacchi T-346 advanced jet trainer operated by the Italian air force has logged its first 1,000 flight hours; it is mainly used as a Lead In Fighter Trainer. (AMI photo)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/

augusta a écrit:

Citation :

In less than two years, the Aermacchi T-346 advanced jet trainer operated by the Italian air force has logged its first 1,000 flight hours; it is mainly used as a Lead In Fighter Trainer. (AMI photo)

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/

Citation :

Italian Air Force for passing 1000 flying hours with T-346 advanced jet trainer
May 26, 2016


n Monday, May 23, during a flight piloted Lt. Col. Alessandro O., commander of the 212th Flight Group, the 61st Wing passed the milestone of the first 1,000 hours flown by the T-346 aircraft supplied to the air force., reported by www.aeronautica.difesa.it.

The main players of this significant event -the instructors of the 212th Group, students, specialists, Leonardo-Finmeccanica staff stationed in Galatina and a staff representative of the Flight School – celebrated the event.

The story of the T-346 in the Italian air force began in August 2014, when the first type qualifications were issued to the Wing’s pilots. On October 2 of the same year, the first training mission was flown on aircraft with a “temporary” registration by two of the school’s instructors. On Feb 26, 2015 Col. Paul Tarantino, the Commander of the School, took delivery at Venegono of the first of the production aircraft assigned to Galatina Air Base.

This was followed by the training of the school’s instructors which continued until October 8, when the first Phase IV students, the Lead In Fighter Training (LIFT) candidates, began flying on the aircraft – ground courses had started in the previous August).

Since last November, the school has also started training pilots of the Polish Air Force, which has also acquired the T-346.

The M-346 Master is an advanced and lead-in fifth-generation fighter trainer being developed by Alenia Aermacchi (Italy), a Finmeccanica company. The aircraft is a development of the YAK/AEM-130, a joint programme with Yakolev Design Bureau and Sokol Manufacturing Plant of Russia. In July 2000, Alenia Aermacchi announced that it would cancel the joint project and develop the aircraft alone, as the M-346.

The M-346 provides combat pilot training for front line fighters with high angle-of-attack capability. The aerodynamic design of the M-346 uses vortex lift to provide manoeuvrability and controllability at very high angle-of-attack using a fly-by-wire control system.

The YAK/AEM-130 has flown in prototype form since 1996. As the Yak-130, the aircraft was selected in March 2002 as the Russian AF’s next generation combat trainer.



http://defence-blog.com/news/italian-air-force-for-passing-1000-flying-hours-with-t-346-advanced-jet-trainer.html

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Des marins italiens se jettent à l’eau pour sauver des migrants


Des marins italiens se jettent à l’eau pour sauver des migrants
Publié le 26/05/2016 17:40 | Mis à jour le 26/05/2016 18:58
Le mercredi 25 mai, le naufrage d'un bateau de pêche chargé de migrants partis de Libye a fait cinq victimes. La Marine italienne a réussi à sauver 562 personnes, dont 432 pour le seul patrouilleur Commandante Bettica, les autres ayant été secourus par la frégate Bergamini.
Certains marins italiens se sont jetés à l’eau pour sauver de la noyade des migrants. « Dans cette tragédie, nous avons cette petite consolation d'avoir sauvé tous les enfants », raconte au quotidien La Repubblica le commandant du patrouilleur, le capitaine de frégate Francesco Iavazzo.
Le navire militaire italien patrouillait entre la Sicile et les côtes libyennes mercredi matin quand le centre de coordination des secours en Méditerranée l'a avisé de la proximité d'un « bateau de pêche de treize mètres de long, clairement surchargé ».
« La situation nécessitait une intervention urgente. Nous avons envoyé en mer nos canots » et « avant toute chose, distribué des gilets de sauvetage avant de commencer l'opération de transfert », explique le capitaine de frégate Iavazzo.

Mouvement de panique


Puis, les choses se sont compliquées. « Nous avions déjà secouru 240 personnes, dont toutes les femmes et les enfants, quand ceux qui étaient restés sur le bateau de pêche ont commencé à prendre peur et à bouger », précise le marin.
Le bateau de pêche s'est alors mis à gîter, les déplacements d'un bord à l'autre de l'embarcation le rendant encore plus instable, puis « il a fini par chavirer ».
« J'ai alors demandé qu'on rapproche le plus possible notre navire, à une centaine de mètres, tandis que nos canots continuaient leur travail de récupération », explique Francesco Iavazzo. Du Commandante Bettica, les marins jettent à l'eau tout ce qu'ils trouvent : gilets de sauvetage bien sûr, mais aussi bouées et cordes.
C'est à ce moment que certains d'entre eux se sont jetés à l'eau, « sans réfléchir alors à ce qu'il y a d'écrit dans le règlement », précise leur commandant. L'équipage du Commandante Bettica a ainsi réussi à sauver 432 personnes : 341 hommes, 48 femmes et 43 mineurs.

Un nouveau naufrage jeudi


Un autre naufrage au large de la Libye a fait le jeudi 26 mai « entre 20 et 30 morts », selon le porte-parole de l'opération Sophia, la force navale européenne anti-passeurs. C'est un avion luxembourgeois engagé dans cette opération qui a localisé l'embarcation à quelque 35 milles (46 km) des côtes libyennes alors qu'elle avait déjà chaviré, avec environ une centaine de migrants à l'eau ou accrochés à l'épave.
Deux vedettes des gardes-côtes italiens et un navire espagnol, le Reina Sofia, participant à l'opération Sophia, ont pu secourir 88 migrants, a indiqué un porte-parole des gardes-côtes italiens.





http://www.lemarin.fr/secteurs-activites/defense/25405-des-marins-italiens-se-jettent-leau-pour-sauver-des-migrants

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1 juin 2016 | Par Emmanuel Huberdeau

Un pod RecceLite sur les Reaper Italiens

  
Avec le pod RecceLite, les Reaper italiens pourront effectuer de la reconnaissance
© Aeronautica Militare


General Atomics a annoncé l'intégration sur les drones MALE (Moyenne Altitude, Longue Endurance) MQ-9 Reaper de l'armée de l'air italienne du pod israélien RecceLite.

Le RecceLite est un pod de reconnaissance commercialisé par Rafael. Il est doté de capacités multi spectrales, visuelles et infrarouges. Les drones MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) sont déjà équipés d'une boule optronique et d'un radar conçus principalement pour la surveillance. Le pod RecceLite pourrait élargir le champ de vision des Reaper italiens et leur permettre d'effectuer des missions de reconnaissance.

General Atomics, Rafael et l'armée de l'air italienne testent actuellement les équipements qui permettront l'intégration du RecceLite sur le MQ-9. Des essais en vol sont prévus pour le début de l'année 2107 sur le base aérienne d'Amendola. Selon General Atomics, l'architecture ouverte du Reaper facilite l'intégration de nouvelles charges utiles avec des modifications mineures des logiciels. L'industriel américain espère que le choix italien ouvrira la voie à de nouveaux développements en Europe.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/un-pod-reccelite-sur-les-reaper-italiens-74861

Room for New Italian Defense Programs Despite Spending Dip in 2016
Tom Kington, Defense News 6:56 p.m. EDT June 1, 2016

Italy’s defense procurement spending in 2016 is set to drop 3 percent to €4.72 billion, new budget documents reveal, although cash was found to launch a new jet trainer program and partner with France on a new missile program.

The dip, due to belt tightening as Italy struggles to escape recession, may alarm military officials, given the instability currently seen in North Africa and the renewed threat from Russia.

The spending trend, which looks set to continue for the next two years, runs contrary to a Europe-wide hike in defense spending currently underway.

Procurement funding for this year combines €2.18 billion from the Defense Ministry and a €2.54 billion top-up from the Industry Ministry, a decline on the €4.87 billion total made available last year, although the Defense Ministry funding is above the €1.95 billion initially forecast for 2016 in a provisional budget document released in December.

The latestl document, which was sent to the Italian Parliament and seen by Defense News, is a three year budget covering 2016-2018, as is customary, which indicates that Defense Ministry procurement funding is expected to drop to €1.93 billion next year and in 2018.

But there is good news for Italy’s Leonardo-Finmeccanica as €9 million is freed up this year to launch development funding for the firm’s new M-345 trainer, which was conceived in conjunction with the Italian Air Force to replace Italy’s MB339 trainer and act as a lead-in to the M-346 jet trainer, which the air force is now flying.

This year’s budget includes €235 million in additional funding to tackle terrorism following the Islamic State group attacks in Paris last November.

Eight million euros of that cash will go to beefing up sensors on Italy’s fleet of Predator UAVs, which are now allowed to patrol the skies over Italy in law enforcement operations. Although Italy was given permission to also arm its US-built UAVs by the US, no armaments have been acquired as the Italian Parliament has yet to vote on the matter.

Elsewhere in the budget, Italy’s decision to partner with France on the upgrading of the Aster 30 missile through the Aster Block 1 New Technology program is backed with €15 million in funding.

The upgrade program for the multi-national missile, which France launched in December, will extend its range for intercepting ballistic missiles. The funding document puts Italy's eventual contribution to the program at €237.4 million.

Another new, albeit small program involves kitting out Italy’s 767 tankers for medical evacuation missions, at a cost of €4.6 million.

As revealed by a source to Defense News last month, Italy’s plan to build a second brigade around newly purchased Freccia armored vehicles looks set to be a slow process after only €21 million out of €2.65 billion required was provided this year.

Other funds listed for the program are needed to cover payments for the first brigade, said a source knowledgeable of the program. “At this rate it could take 20 years to complete the second brigade,” he said.

Funding for a new Centauro II wheeled tank stands at €9.4 million, well short of the €160 million predicted last month, although the source said it was the first tranche in a multi-year funding stream that should reach €160 million.

Overall Ministry of Defense funding, including procurement, maintenance and operations and personnel, runs to €13.36 billion this year, up from €13.19 billion last year thanks to a hike in M&O funding.

But the document said that rise was due to extra anti-terrorism patrols by soldiers on Italian streets.

Apart from the new programs, big ticket items like new multi-mission vessels, U-212 submarines, Eurofighters, early warning Gulfstream aircraft and new AW101 helicopters for the air force all continue to receive funding.

Italy’s ongoing purchase of F-35s is funded to the tune of €630 million. Following parliamentary votes in 2014 demanding a reduction in spending on the program, the document claims that €1 billion will be trimmed off spending between 2016 and 2019, and that spending last year was cut from €583 million to €370 million.

No explanation of where the cuts are being made is given, so it is not clear if the savings are related to Italy’s provisional decision to cut its F-35 order from 131 to 90 aircraft.

The document features a list of programs that are being put on ice due to lack of funds, including the long planned purchase of a new Signals Intelligence aircraft to replace fazed out G222s.

That means Italy is without a SIGINT capability after its lease on a Gulfstream SIGINT platform, rented from Lockheed Martin, ran out earlier this year.

The decision to let the lease lapse, reportedly due to lack of funds, comes as Western special forces take on ISIS in Libya, and contrasts with Italy’s announcement in a new White Paper, issued this year, that it wants to take a central role in Mediterranean military affairs.


http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/policy-budget/budget/2016/06/01/room-new-italian-defense-programs-despite-spending-dip-2016/85265076/

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8 juin 2016 | Par Guillaume Belan

Le SAMP/T déployé en Turquie contre Daech



Quatre batteries Samp/T complètes auront
été transférées à l'armée de Terre italienne,
à la fin de l'année. © MBDA


Dans le cadre du soutien de l'OTAN à la sécurité turque, notamment sur sa frontière sud (face à la Syrie), l'Italie devrait déployer un système de défense aérien SAMP/T (système sol-air moyenne-portée/ terrestre). Le territoire turc continue de faire l'objet d'attaques de missiles et roquettes de la part de Daech, relève la presse locale. Dans ce cadre, l'OTAN a déployé plusieurs moyens, dont des batteries anti-missiles Patriot, des navires ou des AWACS. Le déploiement italien prendrait ainsi la suite du retrait d'un contigent allemand qui mettait en œuvre des missiles américains Patriot. Le SAMP/T est un système de défense aérien reposant sur le missile Aster développé par MBDA et qui affiche une portée proche de 40 km.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/le-samp-t-deploye-en-turquie-contre-daech-75645

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Italy Weighs Its Options on Missile Defense
Tom Kington, Defense News 1:34 p.m. EDT June 10, 2016



ROME — With the release of final funding this year, Italy is due to achieve a minimum capability with its MEADS antimissile system, capping a long and sometimes fraught development program.

Following the release of €3.1 million ($3.5 million) in its 2016 defense budget, the Italian defense ministry said it would wrap up development of the system this year, having spent a total of €595 million, or $672 million.

“This is the last money to be spent,” an Italian defense source said.

However, speculation is mounting as to whether Italy will provide additional money to press on with the program and keep in step with fellow partner Germany, which has opted to order the system.

“The Air Force is currently weighing their needs against a currently constrained procurement budget,” said Gregory Kee, MEADS director of international business development at prime contractor Lockheed Martin. “It is just a question of when Italy is able to rejoin the program,” he said.

Italy originally took a 17 percent share in the program with MEADS partners Germany and the US, only to see the US pull out. Poland then mulled adopting the system before opting for Raytheon’s Patriot, before Germany agreed to acquire the MEADS system instead of Patriot in 2015.

At the Berlin Air Show in Germany this month, Lockheed and Martin and MBDA – the industrial partners on the program -- said they hoped to finish talks for the $4.5 billion deal with Germany by year’s end.

Germany has set tough milestones for the program and Raytheon has said it remains in talks to sell Patriot to Berlin should MEADS fail to live up to its billing.

In Italy, with the last round of funding this year, the country has reached what is known as “minimum engagement capability”, meaning it will own one launcher, one radar and one command-and-control shelter.

Speaking at the Berlin show this month, MBDA Germany CEO Thomas Homberg said he was confident Italy would push on with the MEADS program.

An Italian defense source said Italy already has a role in the German program. “Italy is a design authority on the missile and the engagement chain of the system in use by the Germans,” the source said.

The Italians “want to build on their investment in the system,” said Lockheed’s Kee. “Consultations are taking place between Germany and Italy at the government level – Italy is extremely interested in a further collaboration in the context of continuing the cooperation and would like to contribute its own MEADS-based program,” he said.

Germany has chosen to integrate its own Iris-T missile into the MEADS system as well as the PAC-3 missile, but Kee said, “It is premature to speculate on what secondary missile Italy might procure.”

The Italian source said Italy “may possibly consider a second missile, but it would unlikely be the Iris-T.”

As Italy ponders the future evolution of its embryonic MEADS capability, the battle in Europe between MEADS and Patriot has continued.

After opting for Patriot in 2015, Poland elected a new government which said in February it was back in talks with Lockheed Martin about MEADS as part of a process of reviewing all procurement decisions made by the previous administration.

Last November, Holland said it would upgrade its existing Patriot setup instead of buying a new system like MEADS.

Earlier this year Turkey was reportedly considering MEADS after deciding not to buy an antimissile defense system from China.

As Italy’s central defense procurement office juggles funds to see if it can proceed with the procurement of more MEADS batteries, it will itself undergo an upheaval following a decision to move it out of offices in the center of Rome to an air base on the city’s outskirts.

Following the publication of Italy’s new white paper on defense, which called for a unification under one roof of Italy’s procurement offices, the central office will be joined at the Centocelle base by the individual procurement offices of the Army, Navy and Air Force, which have hitherto been housed at the headquarters of their respective services.

The massing of procurement officials at Centocelle, which is home to Italy’s joint operational command, is part of a bid by defense minister Roberto Pinotti to create synergies between the armed forces which have long been jealous of their own autonomy.



http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense-news/2016/06/10/italy-meads-patriot/85697204/

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Eurosatory 2016: IVECO launches Centauro II tank destroyer

Nicholas de Larrinaga, Paris - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
17 June 2016



CIO unveiled its new Centauro II 8x8 tank destroyer armed with a 120 mm main gun at Eurosatory 2016 in Paris.

The new vehicle has been designed for the Italian Army, which is planning to buy 136 examples to equip nine cavalry units.

Speaking at Eurosatory on 14 June, Roberto Cortesi, the president of CIO, said that the new vehicle offered improved mobility, improved protection, networking and firepower over its predecessor, the 30-year-old Centauro.

Centauro II is designed for aggressive reconnaissance in force, with its mobility allowing it to rapidly deploy/evade, and its firepower allowing for the engagement of any enemy at maximum ranges.

The CIO consortium comprises IVECO and Oto Melara (now Leonardo), which has built more than 1,700 armoured vehicles for the Italian Army, including all its heavy- and medium-weight armour.

The Centauro II has been designed to fit Italian Army requirements for a vehicle of no more than 30 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW), a power-to-weight ratio of 24 hp/tonne (compared with 17 for its predecessor), a maximum road speed of more than 100 km/h, a range of 800 km, and higher ballistic protection that its predecessor.

Centauro II is armed with a 120 mm/45 calibre gun fitted with a semi-automatic loading system, a coaxial 7.62x51 mm machine gun and a Hitrole L remote weapon station (armed with anything from a 7.62 mm machine gun to a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher). The main gun offers a step-change in performance over the previous Centauro, which was armed with a 105/52 main gun, and is able to fire any NATO-qualified 120 mm smoothbore ammunition, including programmable rounds. The new gun has greater range, accuracy, and firepower than its predecessor. The Centauro II's new turret offers a fire-on-the-move capability, something not offered by the original Centauro. The 120/45 gun is an evolution of the 120/44 gun from the Ariete main battle tank, but has been optimised for low recoil, including the installation of a pepperpot muzzlebreak and other features that reduce the recoil force from 45 tonnes in the Ariete to 25 tonnes in the Centauro II.

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Esercito Italiano

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Italy Reveals Innovations on New Naval Vessels
Tom Kington, Defense News 1:27 p.m. EDT June 24, 2016


ROME — The Italian Navy has released fresh details about its seven new, multifunctional ships as it seeks to wrap up a system design review (SDR) of the innovative vessels by the end of June.

As planners mull the use of a Google Glass-type kit for navigators on the bridge, they have also opted for a so-called wave piercing bow, which is expected to add almost a knot in speed.

With industry contracts signed last year thanks to a €5.4 billion (US $6.1 billion) funding package, the Navy now hopes it is on course to have its seven, 4,500-ton, 133-meter-long vessels delivered between 2021 and 2026.

Conceived with a hefty input from the Navy’s own design office, the vessels will be given dual role capabilities to help assist in civilian disaster operations or the interception of migrants in the Mediterranean, as well as fight wars.

The SDR is set to be completed by the end of this month — with some fine tuning on genset options to be made — and a critical design review is planned for February, an Italian defense source said.

Before then, steel cutting on the first ship by state-controlled shipbuilding yard Fincantieri is expected in the autumn.



http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/ships/2016/06/24/italy-navy-vessels-ppa/86338706/

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Italy's M-345 Fighter Trainer Slated for Contract This Year
Tom Kington, Defense News 3 a.m. EDT July 4, 2016



ROME — The M-345 HET, the latest jet trainer to be developed by Italy’s Leonardo-Finmeccanica, will be acquired by the Italian Air Force this year once the Italian government releases initial development funding, a senior defense source has told Defense News.

The new aircraft, which will prepare pilots to move up to the firm’s advanced M-346 trainer, is edging towards first flights this year and may enter service by the end of 2018, company officials said.

Three years after the company announced it would develop the M-345 to replace its MB-339 trainer, Leonardo-Finmeccanica will be showing off the cockpit of the new aircraft at Farnborough, with officials calling the aircraft “unbeatable” for life cycle cost.

The M-345 basic-advanced trainer is based on the firm’s planned, but never-produced, M-311 trainer, albeit with new engines, avionics and some structural aerodynamic changes.

The M-311 was in turn a development of the S-211, which was sold to the Philippines, Singapore and Haiti.

The M-345 prototype now being readied is based on the M-311. It will have the M-345’s selected engine — the Williams FJ44-4M-34 — installed, and fly this year, officials said.

That will be followed by the flight by end 2017 of a pre-series aircraft which will feature the cockpit, complete with three multi-function screens and a Head Up Display for the pilot as well as three multi-function screens and a repeater of the HUD for the back seat.

The three-screen cockpit is similar to the M-346, even if Leonardo-Finmeccanica has decided that the version of the M-346 it will offer to the US in the TX bid will have just one large screen, in keeping with the F-35 configuration.

“We will keep a ‘classic’ cockpit with three multi-function screens on the M-345 because as a Phase II and III trainer, students could be selected to fly helicopters or multi-engine transports,” said an official. “Furthermore, most of the 4th/5th-generation fighters today, and at least up to 2030, still feature a 3-MFD cockpit configuration.”

The flight schedule, followed by deliveries in 2018, marks a slippage from earlier announcements of pre-series flights in 2016 and deliveries in 2017.

What could help accelerate the program is the €9 million in development funding that appeared in this year’s Italian defense budget, the first money slated for the M-345 program. “A contract is likely to be signed this year,” a senior defense source said.




http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/show-daily/farnborough/2016/07/04/italys-m-345-fighter-trainer-slated-contract-year/86610044/

Citation :

11 juil. 2016 | Par Guillaume Belan
Farnborough : le M-346 transformé en chasseur léger






Leonardo (ex Finmeccanica) a dévoilé à l'occasion du salon Farnborough, une nouvelle version de son appareil d'entrainement M-346: le FT (Fighter-Trainer). L'objectif est de pouvoir faire très rapidement passer le jet d'entrainement à un appareil reconfiguré pour mener des engagements opérationnels. Dans sa configuration chasseur, le M-346FT peut recevoir le pod RecceLite, des réservoirs auxiliares, des bombes GBU (-12 ; -49 ; -38) pour en faire un véritable petit chasseur-bombardier. L'intégration de missiles air-air AIM-9 Sidewinder est à l'étude. Sachant que chaques ailes disposent de 3 points durs.
Le petit appareil italien, à l'origine dédié à l'entrainement peut donc dorénavant se transformer en avion léger d’attaque au sol. Il n'est pas le premier, suivant un courant déjà bien encré, à l'instar du T-50 ou du Super Tucano, répondant au besoin opérationnel actuel d'avoir une capacité d'attaque au sol à un prix contenu.
Les pays déjà clients du groupe italien pourraient être les premiers intéressés. Leonardo a vendu à ce jour 68 M-346 à l'Italie, Singapour, Israel, Pologne et a été sélectionné par les Emirats Arabes Unis.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/farnborough-le-m-346-transforme-en-chasseur-leger-78699

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Report: F-35 Would Have Saved Italy 100m Euros in Libya
Tom Kington, Defense News 4:27 a.m. EDT July 12, 2016


FARNBOROUGH, England — As the F-35 makes its debut in the UK, an Italian think tank has claimed that if Italy had used the fighter in its 2011 air campaign against Libya it would have saved 100 million euros.

In a report issued on the eve of the Farnborough Air Show, the Rome-based ICSA think tank issued a report analyzing the cost benefits of the F-35 for the Italian Air Force, which is due to order 90 of the jets.

The report takes Italy’s role in the 2011 NATO air campaign against Libya as a test case, analysing the number and type of aircraft used.

The Italian Air Force participated in the international operation using Tornados, which deployed the Storm Shadow for the first time, and AMX aircraft, also for bombing runs


Tornado ECR aircraft were used for air defense suppression, while F-16s and Eurofighters flew no-fly zone patrols. C-130J and 767 tanker aircraft were used for refuelling.

Italian Navy AV-8s also made bombing sorties from the decks of the Italian carrier Garibaldi.

The report pointed to the need for Tornado and other aircraft to be rebased to Trapani in Sicily to reduce flying distances to Libya, due to their limited range, adding that both 767 and C-130J tanking flights were still required.

If the F-35 had already been delivered to Amendola in southern Italy, where it is due to be based, no rebasing would have been required for the aircraft, the report argues. The F-35B STOVL design, due to be ordered by Italy alongside the conventional take off and landing F-35A, would have been able to fly from land, doing away with the need to involve the Garibaldi, the report added.

Using the F-35 would also have reduced the need for so many types of jet and cut down on the need for airborne early warning missions, ISTAR missions and tanking missions, the report said.

The end result would have been a saving of two thirds saving on the 150 million euro cost of the mission, the report stated.


http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/show-daily/farnborough/2016/07/12/report-f-35-would-have-italy-100m-euros-libya-farnborough/86979062/

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Admiral Valter Girardelli is the new Chief of the Italian Navy


The handover/takeover ceremony took place on July 12, 2016 between Vice Admiral Giuseppe De Giorgi (outgoing) and Vice Admiral Valter Girardelli (upcoming). Following a wreath laying at the Altar of the Homeland and accompanied by the performance of the Italian Navy Band, the Chief of Navy handover ceremony was held in the presence of the Italian Defence Minister, senator Roberta Pinotti, the Defence Chief of Staff, General Claudio Graziano, the Minister of the Interior...




http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2016-07-15T18:30:00-07:00&max-results=10

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Italy Keeps Eye on Mediterranean With New ATR 72
Tom Kington, Defense News 6:40 a.m. EDT July 22, 2016



ROME — The Italian Air Force and Navy are due to take delivery of the first of four ATR 72 maritime patrol aircraft from Leonardo-Finmeccanica to replace ageing Atlantique aircraft, which they fly out of Sicily’s Sigonella air base.

The delivery, which is reportedly due July 25, marks the culmination of an eight-year wait since Italy opted to spend €360 million (US $397 million) on the aircraft in 2008.

As naval vessels prowl the seas off the Libyan coast, looking for endangered migrants, and conflict zones from Syria to Libya put the Mediterranean back on the front pages, Italy risks losing its maritime patrol reach in the region. Its aging fleet of Atlantiques are to go out of service as Italy struggles to find spare parts.

“There is no way we can afford to have a lack of assets in the area right now,” an Italian defense source said.



http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/europe/2016/07/22/italy-atr72-maritime-leonardo-finmeccanica/87429168/

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Italian Coast Guard has ordered two additional AW139 helicopters
Aug 4, 2016


The Italian Coast Guard has ordered two additional AW139 helicopters from Leonardo-Finmeccanica.

This latest contract will increase the customer’s fleet of AW139s to twelve. The AW139s will be used to perform a range of missions including maritime patrol, search and rescue (SAR), and emergency medical services. The latest order also includes options for a further two helicopters, the company said in a statement Thursday.

The AW139 was selected by the customer following a European Tender launched in August 2014 for a second batch acquisition. The main contract was awarded in 2010 with the AW139 proving to be the best solution to meet the Italian Coast Guard’s stringent requirements. Delivery of the first batch of AW139s to the Italian Coast Guard started in 2010 and since entering service they have proved extremely successful, performing operations around the Italian coast line and in its maritime economic exclusive zone.

The Italian Coast Guard’s AW139s feature a wide range of mission equipment including an external rescue hoist, cargo hook, wire strike protection system, search/weather radar, marine band and satellite communication systems, high definition Forward Looking Infra-Red / Low Light TV (FLIR/LLTV) system, mission console with high definitions displays, Optical Proximity LiDAR System (OPLS), full Night Vision Goggle (NVG) capability, new generation Trakka searchlight, emergency floatation system and external life rafts. The AW139 design incorporates a large spacious cabin for the crew, equipment and survivors accessed by two large sliding cabin doors.

The AW139 has also been selected by and is in service with the Italian State Police, Guardia di Finanza (Customs and Border protection) and the Italian Air Force. The various Italian Government agencies operating the AW139 are able to benefit from shared logistics, training and support systems. This latest contract signed by the Italian Coast Guard brings the total number of AW139s chosen by all of these Italian government operators to 41, covering a wide scope of public utility roles including law enforcement and homeland security, patrol, special operations, search and rescue, command and control, government/VVIP transport, disaster relief and training.

Almost 240 customers from over 70 countries have ordered over 960 AW139 helicopters making it the best-selling helicopter in its class. The AW139 can perform a wide range of roles including government missions, EMS, SAR, executive/private and government transport, law enforcement, utility and offshore transport. Many maritime, border patrol and security agencies from countries around the world, including Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the UK, USA, Sweden, Spain, Estonia, UAE, to name a few, have selected or are already operating the AW139 to fulfil their requirements



http://defence-blog.com/news/italian-coast-guard-has-ordered-two-additional-aw139-helicopters.html

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L’Italie autorise les forces américaines à utiliser ses bases pour frapper l’EI en LibyePosté dans Afrique, Opérations par Laurent Lagneau Le 04-08-2016


Au cours de ces dernières heures, de nouvelles frappes américaines ont visé des positions de l’État islamique (EI) à Syrte. Ces raids sont menés dans le cadre de l’opération Odyssey Lightning, lancée le 1er août, à la demande du gouvernement libyen d’union nationale (GNA).

D’après les éléments donnés par le Pentagone, ils impliquent des avions AV-8 Harrier II de l’US Marine Corps (USMC), embarqués à bord de l’USS Wasp, lequel croise au large des côtes libyennes, ainsi que des drones MALE (Moyenne Altitude Longue Endurance) MQ-9 Reaper.

Justement, les forces américaines disposent d’engins de ce type sur la base aérienne de Sigonella, en Sicile. Mais ce ne sont pas ces derniers qui ont été engagés dans l’opération Odyssey Lightning, étant donné que le gouvernement italien n’avait pas été sollicité pour donner son son accord à leur participation aux frappes effectuées contre la branche libyenne de l’EI. Les MQ-9 Reaper engagés en Libye viendraient de Jordanie, où quelques exemplaires ont été déployés en 2015 sur la base aérienne de Muwaffaq, située à une trentaine de kilomètres de la frontière syrienne.

Quoi qu’il en soit, le gouvernement italien a fait savoir, le 3 août, qu’il autoriserait les États-Unis à utiliser ses bases ainsi que son espace aérien pour leur opération contre l’EI en Libye, laquelle ne devrait durer que quelques semaines.

« Le gouvernement est prêt à considérer favorablement une demande d’utilisation des bases aériennes et l’espace national aérien et à soutenir l’opération, si elle doit conduire à une issue plus rapide et efficace des actions en cours », a en effet déclaré Roberta Pinotti, la ministre italienne de la Défense, devant le Parlement.

Et d’ajouter que le « succès du combat contre les bastions terroristes de l’EI » est « d’une importance fondamentale pour la sécurité non seulement de la Libye, mais aussi de l’Europe et de l’Italie. »

En attendant, les frappes américaines ont permis aux troupes du GNA de consolider leurs positions à Syrte.

« Nos forces poursuivent leur progression et tentent de consolider leurs gains, sous le couvert des frappes continues de l’aviation américaine qui ont donné un élan à l’offensive » pour reprendre Syrte, a indiqué Reda Issa, un porte-parole des forces du GNA, a rapporté l’AFP.

Cela étant, l’opération américaine a été critiquée par le Parlement de Tobrouk, qui n’a toujours pas voté l’investiture du GNA, pourtant désormais reconnu par la communauté internationale.

« Il n’y a pas eu de coordination avec le Parlement libyen, seule instance élue par le peuple libyen. C’est le chef du Parlement, représenté par Aguila Salah Issa qui a la fonction du directeur général des forces armées en Libye. C’est lui le vrai chef de l’armée selon la Constitution. Le conseil présidentiel du gouvernement de Tripoli, en donnant son accord aux Américains, s’est approprié la fonction. Ce gouvernement n’a pas encore la confiance du Parlement et il n’a pas fait le serment », a fait valoir Fathi al-Maryami, un porte-parole.

Au niveau international, les frappes américaines sont soutenus par l’Égypte, pourtant proche du général Khalifa Haftar, le chef des forces armées soumises au Parlement de Tobrouk (et auprès desquelles des militaires français sont présents). En revanche, pour Moscou, elles n’ont « aucune base légale » étant donné qu’elles n’ont pas reçu l’aval du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies…

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Les forces spéciales italiennes déployées en Libye

Actualités  Nathan Gain  11 août, 2016  


La liste des pays combattant « officiellement » Daesh aux côtés des troupes libyennes s’allonge de jour en jour. Après les Français, Américains et Britanniques, c’est au tour de l’Italie de confirmer – à demi-mot – la présence de ses forces spéciales sur le sol libyen.


Les hommes du 9e régiment d’assaut parachutiste « Col Moschin » à l’entraînement

Quelques dizaines de commandos du 9e régiment d’assaut parachutiste de l’armée de terre et du Groupe d’intervention spéciale des Carabinieri entraînent et « soutiennent » les troupes libyennes et participent au déminage de la ville de Syrte (sur la côte libyenne), précise un document officiel dévoilé par le quotidien italien La Repubblica.

Le document « secret », rédigé par le COFS (ou Comando interforze per le Operazioni delle Forze Speciali, le Commandement des opérations spéciales local), précise que ces opérations spéciales entrent dans le cadre d’une loi votée en novembre 2015 par le Parlement italien. Une loi qui permet au Président du conseil des ministres, Matteo Renzi, d’autoriser le déploiement de forces spéciales à l’étranger en les plaçant sous le commandement des services secrets italiens. Selon ce document, les forces spéciales ne répondraient pas à une chaîne de commandement classique mais directement à l’exécutif italien et profiteraient de jure d’une immunité quasi complète, précise La Repubblica.

Ce rapport, destiné au comité italien de contrôle sur le renseignement (COPASIR), met fin à une longue série de rumeurs et de démentis. Le dernier en date, issue d’une interview donnée le 31 juillet par Matteo Renzi à La Repubblica, rappelait que « les structures italiennes impliquées dans la lutte contre Daesh sont celles autorisées par le Parlement, conformément à la législation en vigueur ». Une déclaration qui, à posteriori, sonne comme l’aveu d’une volonté d’utiliser le fameux texte de loi voté en novembre dernier.

Exit la discrétion, les forces spéciales italiennes ne semblent pas prêtes de quitter le territoire libyen. L’Italie vient en effet d’annoncer la réouverture d’une ambassade à Tripoli et projette d’installer un hôpital de campagne dans la ville de Syrte, annonçait le 9 août le ministre adjoint des Affaires étrangères Vincenzo Amendola.

http://forcesoperations.com/les-forces-speciales-italiennes-deployees-en-libye/

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image: http://www.opex360.com/wp-content/uploads/italie-20120215.jpg



L’on sait que plusieurs pays occidentaux ont déployé des forces spéciales en Libye dans le cadre de la lutte contre la branche libyenne de l’État islamique (EI). C’est ainsi le cas de la France, du Royaume-Uni et des États-Unis. D’ailleurs, le Washington Post a rapporté que les commandos américains sont directement impliqués dans les combats contre l’EI à Syrte.

Les États-Unis ont en effet lancé, à la demande du gouvernement libyen d’union nationale (GNA), l’opération Odyssey Lightning afin d’aider ce dernier à reprendre la ville aux jihadistes.

« Un petit nombre de forces américaines sont entrées et sorties de Libye pour échanger des informations avec les forces locales, et elles vont continuer à le faire au moment où nous renforçons la lutte contre l’EI et les autres organisations terroristes », a seulement consenti à dire le Pentagone sur ce sujet.

Officiellement, cet appui de Washington au GNA se traduit par des frappes aériennes, réalisées par des AV-8 Harrier embarqués à bord de l’USS Wasp ainsi que par des drones. Et l’Italie a fait savoir qu’elle autoriserait les forces américaines à utiliser ses bases pour leurs raids en Libye.

Mais, a priori, Rome jouerait un rôle militaire plus important car, d’après le quotidien La Republicca, au moins 50 commandos des forces spéciales italiennes seraient actuellement présents en Libye pour y superviser des missions de déminage et y entraîner les forces loyales au GNA. Le conditionnel est de mise car le gouvernement de Matteo Renzi a refusé de confirmer cette information.

« Nous n’avons pas de mission militaire en Libye. Si nous en avions, le parlement en aurait été informé », a toutefois fait valoir Paolo Gentiloni, le ministre italien des Affaires étrangères, auprès du Corriere della Sera. Interrogé sur une éventuelle opération spéciale ou clandestine en Libye, il a botté en touche. « Par définition, je ne commente pas les opérations classées secret défense », a-t-il répondu.

Seulement, un texte adopté l’an passé (article 7 bis) autorise le chef du gouvernement italien à envoyer des forces spéciales dans des zones de combat sans être obligé d’obtenir une autorisation du Parlement. Seul le comité parlementaire supervisant les services de renseignement doit en être informé, ce qui, selon les médias transalpins, a été fait la semaine dernière.

Cela étant, il serait étonnant que l’Italie ne soit pas présente militairement sur le sol libyen pour lutter contre l’EI. En février 2015, le pays s’était dit disponible pour prendre, le cas échéant, la tête d’une coalition anti-jihadiste en Libye.

Alors que les jihadistes ne sont qu’à 350 km de Lampedusa, certains élus italiens critiquent cet envoi de forces spéciales en Libye. « Ce texte évoque clairement l’envoi d’hommes en renfort pour les opérations de renseignement, ce qui n’a rien à voir avec ce que font actuellement les forces spéciales en Libye », ont fait valoir des élus du Mouvement Cinq Étoiles, au sujet de cet article 7bis. « Dans un premier temps avec la concession sur nos bases et maintenant avec nos propres hommes sur le sol, le gouvernement nous embarque dans un théâtre de guerre sans le consentement du parlement », ont-ils ajouté.


En savoir plus sur http://www.opex360.com/2016/08/12/rome-refuse-de-confirmer-la-presence-des-forces-speciales-italiennes-en-libye/#6aVOqJ7uDJlzyIBS.99

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Thursday, 18 August 2016
Italian Coast Guard orders two additional AW139 helicopters
Leonardo-Finmeccanica announced an order for additional two AW139 intermediate twin helicopters by the Italian Coast Guard. This latest contract will increase the customer’s fleet of AW139s to twelve. The AW139s will be used to perform a range of missions including maritime patrol, search and rescue (SAR), and emergency medical services. The latest order also includes options for a further two helicopters.