Tag: Italy

The Italian MOD has ordered the first ten Centauro II wheeled tanks from Iveco-Oto Melara consortium (CIO). This award, worth 159 million Euro, that includes the procurement of vehicles, equipment, and logistics, is the first tranche of a planned procurement of 136 vehicles.

The U.S. Marine Corps has selected a new wheeled, amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) for the service and awarded BAE Systems a $198 million contract to deliver the initial 30 vehicles, with options for additional 174 vehicles, what could lead up to a $1.2 billion procurement. Based on the Italian SuperAV design introduced by Iveco Defense Vehicles, ACV provides exceptional mobility in all terrains, a suspended interior seat structure for 13 embarked Marines, blast-mitigating positions for a crew of three, and improved survivability and force protection over currently fielded systems.

The Italian-based international defense company Leonardo is introducing a new, Fighter Attack (FA) variant of their M-346 trainer, dedicated to attack missions. The new variant will be shown this week at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget. According to the manufacturer, the new fighter attack version is an evolution of a family concept of the M-346 Master, designed to create a common baseline, able to adapt and meet different requirements of air forces. According to Leonardo, several air forces have already expressed their interest in the new variant.

In the past week, Italy received several brand new aircraft - two Italian-assembled F-35 and the first of two G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft that will take its air force to new heights.

Iveco introduced at Eurosatory 2016 an improved, higher performace new variant of its Light Multirole Vehicle (LMV) family of light tactical vehicles. The new vehicle designated LMV 2 is a major improvement over the original LMV, that has been modified and adapted through the years, adding more protection, capacity and electronics to meet user demand.

Italy is integrating the Israeli Reccelite tactical reconnaissance pod on its US-made General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) Predator B/ MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems. Integration tests are already underway and fielding of the new configuration is expected next year.

The Italian government last month quietly began allowing armed American drones to fly out of the US Naval Air Station Sigonella on the island...

The French Ministry of Defence has launched a modernization program for the country's SAMP/T ground based air defense system. The Aster Block 1 NT (New Technology) programme will cover the modernization of the Aster 30 interceptor and associated SAMP/T air defense system that will evolve with missile defense capabilities.

Selex ES to supply 60 InfraRed Search and Track (IRST) Skyward for Saab's Gripen E. With the recent contract, added to AESA radar and IFF systems, Finmeccanica– Selex ES already provides about 30 percent of the Swedish next-generation fighter's electronics.

LAAD 2015 Report: Armored vehicles and protection systems

The Italian Air Force will be the launch customer of the P.1HH HammerHead Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The manufacturer, Piaggio Aerospace will deliver three UAS systems – 6 air vehicles and 3 ground control stations – complete with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) configuration to the Italian Air Force in early 2016.

Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi and ARMAEREO (Italian National Armaments Directorate) signed a contract worth 120 million Euros to provide the Italian Air Force with three additional T-346A advanced trainers. (The T-346A is the Italian variant of the M-346 Master).

The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin have reached an agreement in principle for the production of 43 F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter (JSF) aircraft. The buy includes 19 F-35As for the Air Force, six F-35Bs for the Marines and four F-35Cs for the Navy. Additional aircraft included are 10 F-35As for Israel (2), Japan (4), Norway (2)and Italy (2) as well as four F-35Bs for the UK.

The first two Lavi advanced trainer M-346 produced for the Israeli Air Force (IAF) by the Italian company Alenia Aermacchi have been delivered yesterday to the Hatzerim Israeli Air Force Base in the Negev Desert.