The Italian air force has cut back severely its expenditure on proposed procurement projects, to ring-fence funding for the Eurofighter EF2000 programme.
The definitive version of the Italian defence ministry's budget has been settled, according to defence sources, with EF2000 funding being protected at the expense of planned Panavia Tornado upgrades, along with airborne-early-warning (AEW) aircraft projects.
The air force will receive L2,041 billion ($1.2 billion), with EF2000 funding raised from the initially projected L450 billion to L530 billion. The increase is associated with the expected launch of the production-investment phase of the programme.
Funding for Tornado developments has been cut by 20%. The air force's aspirations to launch an AEWprocurement programme within the 1997 budget have now been shelved, in an effort to save money. Air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons-procurement projects have also been targeted for 40% and 60% funding cuts, respectively.
The air force is also being pressured at a political level to push ahead with personnel cuts. It is expected to cut its numbers by 4% in 1997, to 66,550 people, with the mid-term aim of a force structure of no more than 60,000 staff.
The Italian air force has started to take delivery of its second batch of Tornado air-defence variants (ADV), with most of the 12 aircraft to be delivered in 1997. The air force has already established a 12-strong ADV unit with the 36th Wing at Gioia del Colle. The second unit, the 53rd Wing, will be at Cameri, in the north of the country. o
Source: Flight International
