Italian Parliament Approving Procurements
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Andy Nativi/Genoa
In the run-up to its summer recess, the Italian parliament is clearing a raft of defense procurement and development efforts, including guided weapons, strategic reconnaissance and defensive countermeasures projects.
Acquisition of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile is being given the green light, as is the purchase of the Rafael Spike-ER anti-armor weapon. European missile manufacturer MBDA will be involved in both projects, with its Italian business unit coproducing the Spike-ER. The Italian military is slated to buy around 1,000 of these missiles.
Funding pressure has meant that the U.S. AGM-88E purchase is being spread over more than a decade. The program will begin this year and continue through to 2020, even though the total value is only 139 million euros ($195 million). The AGM-88E is intended for the air force's 50th Wing at Piacenza, which operates the Tornado Electronic Combat Reconnaissance version. Along with MBDA, industrial involvement will include Vitrociset and Alenia Aeronautica.
Another Israeli benefactor (besides Rafael) from the slew of purchases cleared by the parliament's defense committee is electronics specialist Elbit. Development funding was approved from 2009-12 for a joint Elbit-Elettronica directed infrared countermeasures system, the ELT/572. The system is intended to be integrated on the Italian military's Airbus A319CJ VIP aircraft, as well as the KC-767A tankers. A total of 65 million euros has been approved through 2012.
Parliament also waved through Italian participation in the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) program. The military had previously recommended deleting funding for the project, although this likely included a considerable element of posturing. Once it became clear that the Sigonella base in Sicily had been selected as the main operating hub for the AGS fleet of Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk UAVs, the program's future in Italy seemed to be secure.
Italian participation will amount to 177 million euros, with Rome committed to covering 12% of the program's cost. A further incentive for Italy is Selex Galileo's participation in the AGS ground control system.
Funding also was granted for an Italian role in the European Multinational Space-based Imaging System (Musis). This European venture will involve the commitment of national assets. The partners' use of Musis will be expedited through the development of a "common" multi-system ground element.
The lawmakers approved a budget estimate of 605 million euros as Italy's contribution to Musis. Of this amount, 228 million euros is to be provided by the defense ministry; the remainder will come from the Italian space agency (ASI).
In terms of hardware, Rome will contribute two second-generation Cosmo-SkyMed satellites. The initial spacecraft is due to be launched in 2014, since the first of the four older Cosmo-SkyMeds is expected to end its service life in 2015. ASI is acting as the lead agency for Italian participation in Musis, even if the requirements are actually drafted by the defense ministry.
The latest generation of the Cosmo-SkyMed is being developed by Thales Alenia Space. Belgium, France, Germany, Greece and Spain are the other Musis partner nations.
Further space funding also was provided for three more ground control stations to support the Sicral satellite communications network. Telespazio will build the three fixed "anchor" sites, which will be integrated into the overall network to offer additional redundancy. The sites also will provide an alternate control station option to the Sicral main operating center, which is at Vigna di Valle near Rome. From 2009-11, 15 million euros is being provided for the three ground stations.
NATO AGS Global Hawk Photo credit: Northrop Grumman
