The Slowdown in Deliveries of Italian

The current financial crisis has caused a significant reduction in funds buying Italian armed forces. Therefore, the planned slowdown has already ordered the supply of military equipment.


One of the victims of the current budget reduction program is a circular conveyor Freccia. In 2006 the Italian army has ordered 249 vehicles. Deliveries of the first completed three years later. Originally it was assumed that the contract will be executed by a consortium of the CIO, the Iveco Fiat and here's Melara, 2012. Today we know that the last cars will be delivered only in 2016.

Italian military expenditures have been decreasing since 2009 and this trend may be changed only in 2014. This year the Italian Ministry of Defense budget to 13.6 billion euros, which is only 0.84% ​​of GDP. Most of this amount, 9.6 billion will absorb the staff costs. The sum of the technical upgrades would cost only 2.48 billion, and to conduct ongoing operations 1.54 billion. Army announces that the latter amount is too small to effectively pursue both foreign missions and training.


Given the reduced spending on arms purchases, has already decided to abandon or reduce some of the proposed programs, reducing the amount of the armed forces by 30 thousand. soldiers and civilian employees, and finally the withdrawal and sale of the old-type weapons.

In the past budget year expenditures for technical modernization were limited as much as 28%. In the current allocated amounts are slightly higher. This resulted in the need to slow down deliveries of equipment purchased under long-term contracts. This includes the Freccia transporters. Also the transfer of the second pair being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano OP type U212A Todaro, will be delayed by one year, respectively for 2016 and 2017. The process of modernization of the minesweepers will be extended, not ending in 2014, and 2018.

Delivery will be made for more helicopters. Last NH90 will go to the army and navy did not in 2018, and 2021. AW101 while the delay for the Air Force also will be 3 years: the contract will be finalized in 2017. 2-year slowdown in the delivery programs will record the precise type of Vulcano ammunition and bombs, and new self-defense systems for military aircraft.


Delivery will be maintained including 40 vehicles and armored cars sapper medical, reconnaissance UAV, or 81 mm caliber mortars for quota and Afghan artillery transport version of the Spartan, MC-27J for the special forces. The acceleration will work on adapting the Mangusta attack helicopters to use the ppk Spike. However, this is one of the few examples of programs that decided to subsidize.