Italian MIlitary News Thread
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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Italy Supplies Four Bell 412EPX Helicopters to Somalia
On August 29, 2024, images circulating on social media confirmed the recent arrival of four EPX helicopters on Somali soil. This transfer, valued at $16 million, was carried out by the Italian government, marking the most significant delivery of military equipment since the lifting of the arms embargo imposed on Somalia.
the helicopters in that photo are not Bell-412, but having only two blades and one engine it should be the Italian version of the Bell-205 (Agusta-Bell-205)
First details of New Long-Range Submarine Drone for Italian Navy
The Italian Ministry of Defence has recently submitted to the Italian Parliament a request to approve the programme for a new long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capability for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.
Unveiled with the release of the Italian MoD’s Multi-year Planning Document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale) 2023-2025, the submission to the Parliament provides first details on the programme.
To satisfy the requirements for enforced persistence, surveillance and data collection in areas of direct national strategic interests, as well as the uncrewed ASW capabilities in support of force projection from the sea, alongside the control of underwater infrastructures such as pipelines, cables and offshore platforms, as reported by the accompanying submission documentation, the Italian Navy General Staff has requested the procurement of new long-range ISR/ASW AUV platforms with advanced capabilities in terms of modularity, endurance and flexibility. The latter package comprises three Large Displacement Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (LDAUVs) alongside their remote command and control station as well as launch and recovery system to be deployed on board surface and underwater platforms. The programme also includes payloads and systems in addition to training of operators and maintainers and logistic support.