PINO MODOLA / GENOA
Long-running programme with France to enter third phase, but budget cut could force Rome to ditch other projects
The defence committee of the Italian Senate has approved the first part of Phase 3 of the multi-year Future Surface-to-Air missile Family (FSAF) programme. The programme, a joint effort with France, covers development and production of the SAAM-IT and SAMP/T systems for naval point defence and ground-based medium-range anti-aircraft/missile defence, respectively, plus a SAMP/N (now PAAMS) medium-range naval surface-to-air missile system.
Completion of Phase 1 (development of the SAAM and SAMP/T, and definition of the SAMP/N) is due by year-end, with Phase 2 (industrialisation, logistics, and upgrade of the missile seeker) expected to be completed in 2004 for the Italian naval systems and in 2006 for its ground-based system. The cost of Phase 1 was €775 million ($916 million). Phase 2 is expected to cost €476 million, while Phase 3 will cost 1.09 billion.
Phase 3 covers series production and maintenance, and will provide for Italy six SAMP/T systems with 288 Euromissile Aster 30 missiles to equip two air-defence regiments now equipped with Raytheon Hawk missiles, plus 32 Aster 15 missiles for the SAAM-IT system on the new Andrea Doria aircraft carrier. Italy and France agreed to split Phase 3 into three batches, due to start by year-end and be completed by 2014. Italy is committed to fulfil Batch 1 of Phase 3, with Batches 2 and 3 to be agreed with France under separate agreements due to be signed in July 2005 and July 2007.
The Italian government has called for a substantial cut in defence spending for the third consecutive year in its 2004 budget, potentially endangering some of Italy's international programmes. The budget foresees expenditure of €14.09 billion, a theoretical increase of 2.1% over the figure for 2003, which becomes a 4.5% decrease when inflation and increased workforce costs are taken into account. Italian defence minister Antonio Martino admits to a "significant reduction of resources", adding that expenditures over a longer period will have to be "diluted" and modernisation programmes postponed.
Martino has told the government that Italy could ask its international partners to renegotiate the terms of the agreements which were signed for the joint development of defence programmes.
The 2004 defence budget includes €434 million for the Eurofighter programme, €126 million for Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter development, €259 million for the NH Industries NH90 helicopter and €186.5 for leasing of 24 Panavia Tornado F3s.
Source: Flight International
