The Italian Aerospace Information Web
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Aerospace and defence industry meeting in Turin

Weeks before general election in Italy, Democratici di Sinistra (DS), the major party in the current center-left coalition, organized a high-level national meeting devoted to the Italian aerospace and defence policy. It was held in Turin, February 3.

Mr. Enrico Letta, Minister of Industry, attended the meeting, as well as high-ranking political, industrial and military representatives. The discussion covered a very broad spectrum of current and prospective programmes, though no real news emerged.

DS highlighted the results of the last five years of aerospace policy in Italy, from research funding increase to last minute financing for Galileo satellite-navigation system.

In a fast changing environment, characterized by progressive Euroland integration and aerospace industry reshaping, it appears unlikely the current Italian Government, in few weeks, will be in the position to define some important pending matters. Italy is facing critical moves regarding EMAC, the elaborate integration of Alenia Aeronautica and EADS, closely related to a 5% stock-option on Airbus. On the space industry side, three different international merger options are still under scrutiny for Alenia Spazio.

After criticism expressed from other participants to lease F-16s as IAF interim fighter, Under-Secretary Defence, Mr. Marco Minniti, defended the choice of the US proposal on a pure cost basis. Minniti noted that the rejected Mirage 2000 package was far more expensive, but passed over the massive offset clause contained in the French offer.

Mr. Giorgio Zappa, speaking as President of the Italian Aerospace and Defence Industry Association, explained that the Italian participation in Airbus is far to be settled. A huge investment to obtain a minority stake in Airbus will give no decisional power to a "junior" partner that moreover maintains significative links with arch-rival Boeing.

In the picture: anticipation of a Lockheed-Martin F-16 with Italian Air Force roundels

(Aeromedia, February 2001)