TSAMTO, October 1. Italy has announced its intention to arm the rEaper UAVs available in the country's Air Force (six years after receiving permission to do so from the US administration).
According to Defense News, the planned project costs of 59 million euros ($69 million) for the next 7 years are disclosed in detail in the defense budget for 2021. At the same time, it is indicated that in the future the total costs will increase to 168 million euros (196 million dollars).
As planned, two million euros ($2.3 million) will be allocated for the implementation of the program in 2021 and 2022, 5 million euros in 2023, 45 million euros in the period 2024-2026 and 5 million euros in 2027.
The Italian Armed Forces used unarmed upgraded UAVs "Predator A" and "rEaper" during operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans and Africa. As a source in the Air Force told Defense News on condition of anonymity, now, taking into account the existing threats, the Air Force intends to arm the rEaper UAV.
In 2015, the second after the UK, Italy received permission from the US State Department to equip the MQ-9 rEaper UAV with weapons. In November 2015, the US State Department approved the delivery to Italy under the Foreign Military Sales program of 156 AGM-114R2 Hellfire-2 missiles, 30 guided GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, 30 guided GBU-38 JDAM bombs, 30 guided GBU-49 dual-mode laser/GPS guidance system, 30 guided GBU-54 LJDAM laser-guided bombs (Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition), other related equipment, spare parts and services worth up to $129.6 million.
When asked what ammunition Italy intends to purchase now, a source in the Air Force said that, most likely, standard ammunition will be requested.
The decision not to rush to implement the US proposal in 2015 was probably due to the ambiguous attitude in Italy towards the use of armed UAVs, especially after the Five Star Movement political party came to power in 2018, which opposed the purchase of weapons.
Since then, the party has changed its position, Italy's defense spending has increased, and the recent conflicts in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh have demonstrated the widespread use of armed UAVs by regional players, including Turkey and the UAE.
Although the financing of the project is included in the budget of the Ministry of Defense, it must be approved by the Italian Parliament. The date when the vote on this proposal will be held is still unknown.
