With a bolstered defense budget, Italy could strive for additional fighter aircraft.
Italy’s defense budget could soon see a hefty boost. According to reports, its military-related spending could increase by the equivalent of $14 billion as the nation attempts to meet more lofty NATO spending targets. This National Escape Clause (NEC) may be triggered if Italy is not able to spend the required 5 percent of its GDP on defense spending as outlined by NATO guidelines. “The decision on whether to activate the NEC is postponed until after the completion of the SAFE program, when its actual need will be assessed,” the document stated, adding that “Based on a realistic projection, spending in relation to GDP would rise by 0.15 percentage points in 2016 and again in 2017 then by 0.2 percentage points in 2028.”
Earlier this summer, NATO allies agreed to hike their respective defense budgets in response to Washington’s demands for its Western partners to pull their weight when it comes to security spending. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, NATO members had already been ramping up their defense spending.
Italy’s Top-Notch Aircraft: The Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II
When it comes to Italy’s air and missile defense, the nation’s Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Lightning II contingents certainly make up the bulk of its aerial might. The first Eurofighter was delivered to Italy in the early 2000s. However, the aircraft’s origin story dates back much further. In fact, the Typhoon was conceptualized as part of the Future European Fighter Aircraft Program during the Cold War. Along with the UK, Germany, France, and Spain, Italy worked collaboratively to achieve a multinational fighter series capable of withstanding the test of time.
The Typhoon was designed with a quadraplex fly-by-wire control system, ensuring the platform’s stability in the air. Due to this relaxed stability design, the collaborative fighter platform is highly agile at both fast and slower supersonic speeds. The Typhoon is powered by a pair of Ej200 engines, enabling the jet to reach speeds in excess of Mach 2.35 (times the speed of sound). As explained by manufacturer Airbus, “At the heart of this state-of-the-art weapon system is its identification and sensor fusion capability, based on the CAPTOR-E AESA radar and the PIRATE FLIR sensor, protected by the PRAETORIAN Electronic Defensive Aid Sub System (DASS). No other fighter has integrated such a large number of European and U.S. weapons, making it combat-ready for any mission.” When it comes to ordnance power, the Typhoon is highly capable. The Eurofighter is equipped with 13 hardpoints, enabling it to carry quite a range of weaponry. The Typhoon can launch air-to-air missiles, including the Meteor and AMRAAM, in addition to air-to-ground missiles like the Brimstone missiles.
Italy’s F-35 Lightning II jets are widely considered to be some of the most advanced fighters of their kind in service today. The Lockheed Martin-designed fifth-generation platform hosts all the latest and greatest technologies, including stunning avionics, propulsion, electronic warfare functions, and, of course, stealth. As a Tier 2 partner of the Joint Strike Fighter, Italy has contributed to development costs concerning the platform and participates in its manufacturing and sustainment.
With a bolstered defense budget, Italy could strive for additional fighter aircraft. If so, F-35 and Typhoons would be the obvious choice for the European nation.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: By www.esercito.difesa.it, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons.
