F-35 - The Italian Perspective

News from Italy today.

ROME - The new Minister of Defence, Elisabetta Trenta, announced that Italy “will no longer be buying any F-35 planes” in an interview on the La7 Omnibus program on Friday.

“We have always been critics of the program and not afraid to hide it”, wrote the Minister on Facebook in a post where she shared the interview. “We will no longer invest in new fighter planes, and as for the contracts which have already been signed by the previous executive, we are carrying out a careful evaluation that exclusively takes into account the national interest.”


The only reason for keeping the current contracts would be because “we could find that terminating the contracts costs more than maintaining them. Around the F-35 there is technological activity, important research and of course employment which would be cut in turn. This is why we have to take care with our evaluation.”

http://www.italianinsider.it/?q=node/6962

I watch LA7 very often, that simply never happends.

She infact confirmed Italy commitment to the JSF only few days ago.

Fake news.

If, we had a dollar for every time Italy said they would leave the F-35 Program. All of the members could retire.....

Errrr no?

M5S and some noise from the right party, other than that nothing really.

F35 never been in discussion, not even under Monti's legislature.

Our defense minister said it clearly: Leonardo would go ham with legal actions.

The M5S party is the largest in the current governing coalition and some individual members have some non-traditional defense policy views. In addition to not liking the F-35, this article mentions allowing military members to join a labor union or "syndicate".

http://www.italianinsider.it/?q=node/5355

Here is the current defense minister, who is said to be a member of the M5S party

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabetta_Trenta

Nutshell, thanks for clarifying what might be incorrect translations of what the defense minister said in an interview about the F-35.

Italy will moderately cut its already low defense budget. It will cancel Tornado upgrades and slow down F-35 purchases.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/euro ... Ns.twitter

Italy will moderately cut its already low defense budget. It will cancel Tornado upgrades and slow down F-35 purchases.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/euro ... Ns.twitter

This week European Comission asked Italy to review its budget, present a new one within three werks. Let's see how it plays out in the end (the chances that Italy increases defence budget are... slim)

On the bright side F-35 is not being cut which considering where Five Star started out is an achievement. Be thankful for small mercies .

Italy signals slowdown on F-35 orders
09 Nov 2018 Tom Kington

"ROME — Italy will stretch out the order of F-35 fighter jets, buying six or seven of the aircraft in the next five years instead of the previously planned 10 jets, a government source told Defense News....

...The source said the plan did not envisage a reduction in orders, merely a slowdown of intake, which would leave the decision of the total F-35 purchase to a future government. Previous governments planned to buy 60 F-35As and 30 F-35Bs for a total of 90 aircraft. The new government will focus on spending plans over its five-year mandate and not beyond, the source said, adding that discussions are underway with the U.S. about the change in schedule....

...Italy has taken delivery of 10 F-35As and one F-35B. Two of the "A" models as well as the "B" model are being used for training in the U.S., while eight "A" models are now based at the Italian Air Force’s base in Amendola, southern Italy...."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/11 ... 35-orders/

Looks like even the former opposing party in Italy is realising what the plane can do:

https://www.defensenews.com/global/euro ... alflow+DFN

No words on the rumored acquisition slowdown - but this might be prepping to let the program run it's course.w

Italian Government Praise for F-35Shows Early Doubts Waning

...
“It is obvious we cannot deprive our Air Force of a great air capability that puts us ahead of many other countries,” said junior defense minister Angelo Tofalo during a speech in Italy’s parliament this week.
...

Who doesn’t like to be in the lead, and better than everyone else? Everyone likes to be a winner. Never get between a politician and a microphone from which he can declare his winning ways...

The assembly facility in the Piedmont probably helps with the popularity of the F-35 in domestic politics. A similar dynamic might be in play in Japan, which just upped its order for F-35s.

Who doesn’t like to be in the lead, and better than everyone else? Everyone likes to be a winner. Never get between a politician and a microphone from which he can declare his winning ways...

We have another version of that, "Never ever get ­in between a State Premier and a bucket full of money." - former prime minister Paul Keating.

Bottom line though, Italy doesn't even have an empty bucket.