Andrea Nativi/GENOA
The Italian navy is to significantly increase its capacity to project air power in the next decade, with plans to acquire additional fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and new platforms for operating them from.
It currently operates 16 McDonnell Douglas Harrier II Plus fighter bombers and two TAV-8B twin seat trainers, but plans to acquire four more single-seat Harrier IIs rather than the eight additional aircraft it originally planned to buy. Four will be kept in reserve for attrition, with 16 assigned to a single operational unit along with two TAV-8Bs. The new aircraft will probably be obtained from the US Marine Corps Harrier remanufacturing programme now underway.
The Harriers will be deployed on two ships; the existing Guiseppe Garibaldi and a new multirole carrier expected to become operational in 2006. The navy has also expressed initial interest in the JSF programme, and is considering eventually buying around 20-24 aircraft.
The naval helicopter force is to be re-equipped, with the ageing Sikorsky SH-3D to be replaced by the EH101 in three versions; an ASW/ASuW variant, an AEW variant and an assault/utility variant. A further eight EH101s will be ordered in addition to the 16 already on order. The EH101 will only be deployed on the carriers and shore bases.
The Agusta Bell AB212 will be replaced by the NH90, with some of the 46 on order to be used in the assault/utility role, to satisfy the needs of the San Marco rapid reaction regiment and the remainder in the prime ASW/ASUV role. Like the fixed-wing force, not all the helicopters will be deployed, with around 20 of the EH101s and NH90s in reserve at shore bases to keep an operational strength of around 50 machines. The other NH90s will be deployed on up to 31 new frigates of various sizes.
The air force is to disband its only dedicated anti-shipping strike unit, the Tornado-equipped 156 fighter bomber squadron based at Gioia del Colle. The unit's aircraft, which use the Kormoran anti-ship missile, will be shared by 154 and 102 squadrons at Ghedi, retaining an anti-ship role but in multi-role units.
Maritime patrol will be carried out in future by a force of 14 new maritime patrol aircraft to be jointly procured with Germany. A single operational and training squadron will be based at Catania-Sigonella, with nine aircraft ready at any one time and five in reserve. The navy currently operates a total of 18 Breguet Atlantics in two squadrons with mixed air force and navy crews.
Source: Flight International
