21 mars 2024 | International, Aérospatial
F-35 delivery delays frustrate European air force upgrade plans
Client governments early in the acquisition sequence could be the first to feel the ripple effects of a snag related to technology upgrades.
25 octobre 2018 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
Italy plans to slash half a billion dollars from defense in 2019
By: Tom Kington
ROME — Italy will cut €450 million (U.S. $512.3 million) from its planned defense spending in 2019 by suspending helicopter and missile purchases and canceling an office move by the defense ministry to help shore up social welfare and tax cuts, a defense source has told Defense News.
Italy's total outlay on defense in 2019 will be announced in parliament in the next few days, as Rome's populist government seeks support by members of parliament for its state budget, which contains billions of euros for a new wage for the unemployed.
To free up funds to cover spending, Rome has made its cut to the defense budget, just as most European states are increasing their military outlay.
During 2019 all ongoing purchases of NH-90 helicopters for the Italian Army and Navy will be suspended, the source said.
Italy is planning to buy 60 NH-90s for the Army and 56 for the Navy at a total cost of €4 billion, with the procurement due to wind up in 2024.
Upgrades to Tornado aircraft will also be suspended, said the source, who added that the two measures would save €370 million.
Italy's purchase of the MBDA Camm-Er missile defense system will also be put off for a year, saving €30 million in 2019, the source added.
Another €50 million — to reach the total of €450 million — will come from the cancellation of plans to move the headquarters of Italy's armed forces out of their separate buildings in Rome's city center to a unified HQ in the suburbs.
The plan, dubbed ‘Italy's Pentagon,' was due to cost a total of €1.1 billion, the source said.
The source added that F-35 purchases would be “slowed” in order to spread out payments. Italy is currently planning to buy 90 aircraft.
Italian defense minister Elisabetta Trenta will discuss the plan with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis when she visits the United States in November, the source said.
The Italian coalition government which took office in June combines the anti-migrant League party with the anti-establishment Five Star party, which has long criticized spending on defense in Italy.
A second defense source said that the defense ministry was about to publish its much delayed document breaking down the year's defense spending by program, which is normally released in the spring.
The source said the document would this year indicate military procurement programs considered “ethical” by the new government.
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27 octobre 2020 | International, Aérospatial, Naval
Pakistan to replace Orion patrol aircraft with Brazilian jetliner
Usman Ansari ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's Navy has selected the Embraer Lineage 1000 jetliner to replace its P-3C Orion long-range maritime patrol aircraft, a source with knowledge of the program has confirmed to Defense News. Outgoing naval chief Adm. Adm. Zafar Mahmood Abbasi announced Oct. 6 that the Navy would replace its P-3C Orion fleet with 10 converted commercial jets, the first of which has been ordered. However, he did not identify the type. The Ministry of Defence Production, which handles acquisition, did not return requests for comment regarding the conversion and possible partners. With only a single aircraft ordered thus far, the program is in its early stages. When converted for Pakistani service, the aircraft will be called Sea Sultan. It is unclear if the aircraft is being acquired directly from the manufacturer or another party. Embraer did not respond to requests for comment. The question of what issues may arise in converting the aircraft was put to Douglas Barrie, an aerospace analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies: “Using a commercial turbofan engine-powered aircraft as the basis for an ASW [anti-submarine warfare] platform is not unheard of. After all, the U.S. P-8 is a Boeing 737-800 derivative," he said. But there are challenges in converting the aircraft, he added, "not least of all if internal weapons carriage is required where a bomb bay will need to be cut into the airframe.” The question of what issues may arise in converting the aircraft was put to Douglas Barrie, an aerospace analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies: “Using a commercial turbofan engine-powered aircraft as the basis for an ASW [anti-submarine warfare] platform is not unheard of. After all, the U.S. P-8 is a Boeing 737-800 derivative," he said. But there are challenges in converting the aircraft, he added, "not least of all if internal weapons carriage is required where a bomb bay will need to be cut into the airframe.” “[It is a] significant undertaking, and risk management is going to be important,” he said, adding that it's likely Embraer will be asked to help with the conversion, “otherwise the challenges just get all the greater.” Frederico Lemos, Embraer's defense representative who handles business in Asia, did not respond to Defense News' questions about whether the company is or would be involved in the conversion process. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/10/26/pakistani-navy-confirms-brazilian-jetliner-will-replace-orion-patrol-aircraft/
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20 juin 2023 | International, Aérospatial
Boeing wants to boost KC-46 defenses as Air Force weighs tanker path
The Air Force wants its next tankers to be able to survive in the contested airspace likely in the nation's next war.