Italy provides another boost for the Eurofighter consortium
December 24, 2024
On 23 December 2024 in Rome the leaders of Eurofighter and NETMA (the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency) signed the contract for up to 24 Italian Air Force Eurofighters. The contract had been long expected, since a draft ministerial decree approving the program (Government Act no. 176) for the acquisition of 24 new Eurofighter Typhoons for the Italian Air Force was transmitted to the Defence Committee of the Chamber of Deputies (The Camera dei deputati, the lower house of the bicameral Italian Parliament), on 4 July 2024. The acquisition was subsequently confirmed in the annual multi-year defence planning document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale della Difesa) published on 17 September 2024, which set out to review military funding for the period from 2024-2026.
The Italian contract comes at a strategically important time for the Eurofighter programme and followed the contract signing three days earlier (on 20 December) for 25 Eurofighters for the Spanish Air Force. The news was greeted with enthusiasm by the ‘great and the good’ within the consortium.
Air Vice Marshal Simon Ellard, the General Manager of NETMA greeted the announcement saying that: “The additional 24 aircraft for Italy is yet another proud moment for the Eurofighter Programme. The order will enhance the Italian Air Force’s combat air capabilities and provide security for Italy, Europe and the NATO Alliance. The order, which follows the contract for 25 additional jets for the Spanish Air Force signed on the 20th of December, demonstrates that the Eurofighter Typhoon continues to be the backbone of European air defence.”
Giancarlo Mezzanatto, the Chief Executive of Eurofighter GmbH, said: “Italy’s decision to purchase an additional 24 jets is, of course, fantastic news for our programme, further demonstrating the strength and importance that Eurofighter Typhoon brings to Europe. During this past seven days we have seen two of the four Eurofighter Core Nations sign new contract orders, with a clear desire to modernise their Air Forces and confirming the crucial role they attribute to our aircraft.”
Stefano Pontecorvo, the Chairman of Leonardo, noted that: “The level of technology delivered by the Eurofighter programme over years is unquestionable. Its success provides also evidence of the outstanding synergies between the industry and institutions. We’re proud of what we’ve built together and we’re committed to providing our contribution to make sure Italy and all other partner nations continue to receive the level of capability they deserve.”
Lorenzo Mariani, Co-General Manager of Leonardo, also commented: “This contract is a major milestone for the Eurofighter programme in Italy. Since its inception, it has played a crucial role for national defence and security as well as in the development of advanced technologies and employment of thousands of skilled professionals. With this latest order the programme will deliver even greater capabilities and economic returns for many years.”
The announcement lacked any detail as to the breakdown of single seaters and two-seaters (Known as the F.2000 and TF.2000A in Italian service) within the new batch, which will replace 26 Italian Tranche 1 aircraft that are currently in service, and due for retirement in 2029.
It was said that the new Italian Eurofighters will be equipped with advanced avionics, unspecified new sensors and improved connectivity, and would have an ‘enhanced weapon system’ capable of operating Brimstone 3 and Meteor.
In July, writing in RiD (Rivista Italiana Difesa, the Italian Defense Magazine) Peter Batacchi speculated that these aircraft would be to what he called: “the NG (Next Generation) standard, mainly characterized by a new LAD (Large Area Display), a new generation mission computer, high-performance Captor-E Mk2 [ECRS.Mk 2] AESA radar, a renewed electronic self-protection system and the ability to control/manage so-called wingman drones.”
Following the contract announcement, AGN’s good friend Gareth Jennings, Aviation Desk Editor at Jane’s, predicted that: “these additional Italian jets will on delivery be a unique hybrid of Tranche 4+ and the ECRS Mk 0 E-Scan radar, based on Italy’s urgent requirement.”
Jennings based his conclusion on statements made by the Eurofighter CEO, Giancarlo Mezzanatto, at the Farnborough International Airshow, reminding this author that Mezzanatto had said that the aircraft would be needed: “before 2030… (in response to your question at Farnborough, IIRC)!”
While Mezzanatto had said the aircraft would be needed by 2030 (the into service date for the ECRS.Mk 2 radar for the UK Royal Air Force), that would not necessarily rule out inclusion of Leonardo’s ground-breaking new ECRS.Mk 2 radar. The in service date of what is often colloquially referred to as ‘Radar Two’ is 2030 for the UK for economic reasons. There are no technical or programmatic reasons why a much earlier date should not be achieved, and Finland were offered a date of 2025 for the delivery of Radar Two equipped Typhoons. 2025 is no longer possible but a date of 2027-28 almost certainly is, given the right funding profile.
With ECRS.Mk 2 or ECRS.Mk 0 (in service in Kuwait and Qatar), the new Typhoons will offer a service life out to well beyond 2060, with technical capabilities that will allow full integration into Europe’s future air combat environment.
