Italy's defence ministry is to publish a new defence report by the end of this month which will review the status of the country's armed forces and the progress on their transformation aimed at eliminating compulsory service by the end of 2006.
The report, known as a 'white book', will contain the first indications of Italy's future security policy, which is expected to re-establish homeland defence and security as key priorities. The air force is likely to be promised long-requested assets, including airborne early warning and control aircraft, new surface-to-air missilebatteries and possibly more fighters.
Defence minister Antonio Martino says that with 10,000 Italians serving in international operations worldwide there is a need for more spending to accelerate the transformation process and for weapons modernisation across the air force, army and navy.
In some military circles there is growing support for a "special law" to finance Italy's participation in major international development programmes, in order to save defence spending for the transformation process and for other programmes.
Martino confirms that Italy will soon decide on participation in the Joint Strike Fighter systems development and demonstration phase. The finance ministry, however, still needs to commit up to $1 billion needed for a 4-5% stake in the programme.
Source: Flight International
