The italian Ministry of Defense has published the Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (DPP) 2024-2026 (DPP), officially confirming the acquisition of 24 new Eurofighter aircraft and 25 new F-35 jets. The latter will be divided into 5 F-35B aircraft for the Italian Air Force, 5 F-35B for the Italian Navy, and an additional 15 F-35A for the Italian Air Force. This new acquisition will bring the national fleet to a total of 115 F-35 aircraft: 95 for the Italian Air Force (75 F-35A and 20 F-35B) and 20 F-35B for the Italian Navy’s Carrier Air Group.
Both the Italian Air Force and Italian Navy are advancing the concept of interoperability and joint force capability development, representing a further step in integrating the fifth-generation multi-role F-35B aircraft, which features STOVL (short takeoff and vertical landing) capabilities, highlighting its versatility and operational potential.
The increase from 30 to 40 F-35B aircraft will significantly enhance these capabilities, enabling more synergistic training for the crews of both armed forces, facilitating an exchange of experiences and tactics, all of which benefit the projection capabilities of the F-35 air component from the sea, and its value in an expeditionary context.
In this regard, the latest training exercise by the Italian Air Force saw two F-35Bs operating aboard the Italian Navy’s aircraft carrier Cavour, as part of drills in the Indo-Pacific region, aimed at further developing the national joint sea-based projection capability with fifth-generation aircraft.
25 New F-35 Aircraft for Italian Air Force and Navy
The 2024-2026 DPP recalls that the F-35 program is a cooperative effort with the USA, UK, Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Australia, and, as Foreign Military Sales (FMS) clients, Israel, South Korea, Japan, Belgium, Poland, Singapore, Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, and the Czech Republic.
The program aims to develop, industrialize, produce, and provide logistical support for a fifth-generation multi-role aircraft, replacing third-generation aircraft at the end of their operational life (for Italy: Tornado, AM-X, and AV-8B). The Documento Programmatico Pluriennale 2023-2025 (DPP) outlined three acquisition phases, named Phase 1, 2a, and 2b. Currently, in light of the changed geopolitical scenario and potential operational impacts, an additional Phase 3 has been planned to acquire 25 new F-35 aircraft.
- The costs of Phase 1 (a total requirement of €7.06 billion) met the need for acquiring the first 28 aircraft, their engines, equipment, periodic upgrades, and logistical support until 2022, as well as the construction of the Cameri Trivalent Hub and the preparation of national sites (Amendola, Ghedi, Cavour).
- Phase 2a (a total requirement of €4.2 billion) involved the acquisition of an additional 27 aircraft, along with their engines, equipment, periodic upgrades, and the necessary expansion of logistical support until 2030.
- In 2022, Phase 2b (a total requirement of €7.0 billion) was initiated, involving the acquisition of an additional 35 aircraft (bringing the national F-35 fleet to a total of 90) along with their engines, equipment, periodic upgrades, and logistical support until 2032, as well as the activation of two additional sites (Grottaglie and Decimomannu).
The costs for Phases 1, 2a, and 2b are aligned with the overall financial planning for the program. In accordance with political directives aimed at meeting the operational needs of the Italian Armed Forces, Phase 3 will proceed with the acquisition of an additional 25 aircraft (with an estimated total requirement of €7.0 billion), their engines, equipment, periodic upgrades, and logistical support, extending potentially to 2035, bringing the national fleet to a total of 115 aircraft.
Although this fleet size is still below the original target of 131 aircraft, authorized by Parliament in 2009 and still corresponding to the Armed Forces’ operational needs, the increase will enhance Italy’s geopolitical standing within the European security framework and maintain consistent costs for the European Hub in Cameri with those in the US. Additionally, the activation of another site (Trieste) is planned.
The Italian Ministry of Defense’s programmatic document also highlights that as of December 31, 2023, the program has generated national technological, industrial, and economic returns valued at approximately €4.7 billion, with a further contribution of about €1.64 billion for site activation and FACO implementation. The maturity of the Cameri facility promises additional economic benefits, as it becomes a reference point for F-35 fleets in the European region and other allied and friendly nations.
24 New Eurofighter Aircraft for the Air Force
The news, officially confirmed by the 2024-2026 DPP, had already surfaced in July, when the Ministry of Defense requested approval for the acquisition of 24 new Eurofighter aircraft and the renewal of technical and logistical support for the entire fleet. As we know, the Eurofighter program is a cooperative effort with Germany, the UK, and Spain, aimed at the development, acquisition, and evolution of aircraft for Air Defense, with the primary task of countering enemy air forces.
The program also ensures the development of next-generation high-tech sensors, aimed at promoting the stronger positioning of the national aerospace industry within international cooperation and the transition towards domestically produced technologies for the future sixth-generation program. The total volumes required for the F-2000 program are estimated at approximately €700 million per year.
The new integration of €690 million through “needs-based” resources provided by the 2024 Budget Law concerns 24 new fourth-tranche Eurofighter aircraft, which will replace 26 first-tranche Eurofighters, scheduled for phase-out by 2029. Regarding this new acquisition, the DPP notes that a new Ministerial Decree (D.M./D.I.) has been prepared, with the approval process currently underway.
In March, the Italian Air Force celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Eurofighter. Since March 16, 2004, when the first two-seat TF-2000A aircraft landed at the Grosseto airbase, the Eurofighter has become the backbone of national and European air defense. Powered by two Eurojet EJ200 turbofan engines with 90 kN thrust each, enabling a top speed of 2,495 km/h, a climb rate of 315 meters per second, a service ceiling of 13,000 meters, a maximum range of 2,900 km, and carrying up to 6,500 kg of external loads (weapons, pods, and sensors), the Eurofighter represents a formidable force in air defense.
After a transition period from the F-104 to the F-2000, along with necessary upgrades to airport infrastructure, the 4th Wing, under Colonel Vittorio Iannotta’s command, resumed Italian airspace surveillance services with the new aircraft on December 16, 2005, marking the beginning of a successful career that reached 80,000 flight hours as of December 2023.