Military service in Italy. Italian army: under the US umbrella. Composition of the armed forces
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The maximum capabilities of Italian troops are participation in collective police operations in developing countries Italy is one of largest countries
NATO and the EU in terms of population, economic size and, accordingly, military potential, although, of course, it was not spared by the pan-European trends of a significant reduction in the armed forces. The country has a very powerful military-industrial complex, capable of producing military equipment of almost all classes. The level of combat training of the personnel of the Italian army is traditionally considered low (it was such during both world wars), but now it has decreased throughout Europe, so Italy has practically ceased to stand out from the general background for the worse. Like most of the south European countries
, Italy does not recycle, but leaves in warehouses a significant part of outdated and decommissioned equipment. Ground troops behind last years
have gone through many organizational transformations; at the moment, they have newly restored divisions, of which there are three. In addition to them, the ground forces include three separate brigades and four commands.
The Tridentina division is a mountain infantry division and includes the Alpine brigades Taurinense and Julia. The Friuli division is “heavy”, it includes the Ariete armored brigade, the Pozzuolo de Friuli brigade, and the Sassari mechanized brigade. The "Aqui" division is "medium" - with the "Garibaldi" brigades, the mechanized brigades "Pinerolo", "Aosta". Separate brigades - the Folgore parachute brigade, communications and electronic warfare brigades. Commands - special operations
, army, air defense, support.
In addition, the carabinieri (two divisions, one brigade, regional units) can be considered as another component of the ground forces. Like the French gendarmerie, they are subordinate to the command of the Armed Forces, but at the same time they solve a variety of police tasks throughout the country as a whole. The Carabinieri are armed with a number of armored personnel carriers, light aircraft and helicopters, which are included in the total number of equipment (discussed below). At the same time, the level of their combat and especially moral and psychological training is higher than in the army.
Carabinieri during a special operation in southern Italy. Photo: Pier Paolo Cito/AP own production C1 "Ariete", created on the basis of the German "Leopard-2". In addition, 576 obsolete German Leopard-1s (121 A5, 455 A2) remain in storage.
Often considered as a “wheeled tank” fighting machine with heavy weapons (BMTV) B-1 "Centauro" with a 105-mm cannon. There are 320 of these BMTVs, with another 80 in storage.
The arsenal consists of 32 combat reconnaissance vehicles (BRM), 449 domestic infantry fighting vehicles (249 Freccia, 200 VCC-80 Dardo), up to 4 thousand armored personnel carriers (230 Swedish Bv-206, 1323 American M113, 586 domestic VCC-1, 1267 VCC-2, 672 Puma, 57 Fiat-6614, 17 American amphibious AAV-7). Some armored vehicles, primarily armored personnel carriers, are in storage.
Artillery includes 260 old American M109 self-propelled guns and 70 newest German РzН-2000 (155 mm), 164 British towed FH-70 (155 mm) guns (265 domestic M-56 (105 mm) and 54 American М114 (155 mm) in storage ), up to 1.5 thousand mortars, 22 American MLRS MLRS (227 mm).
There are 32 of the latest Israeli Spike ATGMs, 858 American Tou, 1000 old French Milan.
Ground-based air defense consists of 18 batteries of the American Hawk air defense system (126 PU), one battery of the latest French SAMP/T air defense system (6 PU), 50 domestic short-range Skygard-Aspid air defense systems, 128 American Stinger MANPADS, 64 domestic air defense systems SIDAM.
Army aviation includes seven light transport aircraft, 59 AW129 Mongoose combat helicopters, and more than 300 utility and transport helicopters.
The Italian Air Force has six commands: combat; tactical; educational; rear; two regional (northern and southern).
In service there are 73 of the latest European Typhoon fighters, in the production of which Italy itself participates (60 IS, 13 combat training IT), 80 German-British-Italian Tornado IDS bombers (four more in storage), 28 domestic attack aircraftМВ339CD, 57 Italo-Brazilian AMX attack aircraft (including 12 AMX-T combat trainers; another 44, including 11 AMX-T in storage). 21 extremely outdated American F-104 fighters remain in storage, which, due to their high accident rate, earned NATO pilots the “honorable” nickname “flying coffin” in the 1960s and 1970s. The combat aircraft also include two outdated Breguet 1150 Atlantic basic patrol aircraft (another 15 are in storage).
Italian-Brazilian AMX attack aircraft. Photo: Ariel Schalit/AP
The Air Force is armed with four Boeing 767MRTT tankers, 90 transport aircraft, 41 MB-339A combat trainer aircraft (another 24 in storage), 30 SF-260EA trainers, and three newest M-346 trainers.
Italy is one of two NATO countries (the other is Great Britain) that received combat drones (UAVs) from the United States - five RQ-1B and one MQ-1B Predator, two MQ-9 Reaper.
On air force base Aviano stores 50 B-61 nuclear bombs for the US Air Force, and Gedi Torre Air Base stores 20 similar bombs for the Italian Air Force itself.
The Navy is the most powerful branch of the Italian Armed Forces, and all of it combat units built in our own shipyards.
There are two newest submarines of the Salvatore Todaro type (German project 212; two more are under construction), four Sauro types (another is used as a training submarine, two have been withdrawn and are in storage).
The Navy operates the aircraft carriers Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi. These are the only Western aircraft carriers that, in addition to carrier-based aircraft, carry not only short-range air defense systems, but also strike weapons, including anti-ship missiles (ASM). In fact, they, like Russian ships of this class, should be classified as aircraft-carrying cruisers. "Cavour", in addition, can be used as a universal landing ship. The decommissioned helicopter carrier cruiser Vittorio Veneto is in storage.
There are four modern destroyers - two each of the Andrea Doria and De la Penne types; in storage - two old Audace-class destroyers.
In service are two newest frigates of the Bergamini type (Italian-French project FREMM, four more are under construction), four Artillere types, eight Maestrale types.
Submarine of the Salvatore Todaro class.
The Navy, as well as the Coast Guard and the Finance Guard, have more than 300 corvettes, patrol and patrol ships and boats.
There are four Lerici-class minesweepers in service (two more are in reserve) and eight Gaeta-class minesweepers, and three San Giorgio-class helicopter-carrying landing ships.
Naval aviation is armed with 16 AV-8B Harrier fighters (including two TAV-8B combat trainers) with vertical take-off and landing for two aircraft carriers. It also includes 17 basic patrol and transport aircraft, 58 anti-submarine helicopters (12 AW101, 41 AV-212, five NH90NFH), four AW101 AWACS helicopters, 38 transport and multi-purpose helicopters.
The Marine Corps consists of the San Marco Regiment. It is armed with 40 VCC-2 and 18 AAV-7 armored personnel carriers, 12 mortars, and six Milan ATGMs.
Italy is one of three European countries (the other two are Great Britain and Germany) on whose territory there is a group of US troops. It includes the 173rd Airborne Brigade of the 7th Infantry Army (Vicenza), the 31st Fighter Wing of the 3rd air army(Aviano, in service with 21 F-16s), a squadron of nine P-3C (Sigonella) basic patrol aircraft. Gaeta (near Naples) is the headquarters of the 6th Operational Fleet of the US Navy.
In general, the current potential of the Italian Armed Forces is quite sufficient to solve the only problem within NATO and the EU - limited participation in collective police operations in developing countries. The Italians will not have to solve any other problems in the foreseeable future.
Italian Air Force structure. Italy has a very rich aviation history - suffice it to say that it was the Italians who first used aircraft for military purposes (in 1911 in Libya during the Italo-Turkish War). Currently, the Italian Air Force - Aeronautica Militare - is one of the three main branches of the country's armed forces.
The Italian Air Force has approximately 470 aircraft and helicopters and approximately 43,000 personnel.
emblem and identification mark Italian Air Force
The Air Force's motto is "Virtute Siderum Tenus" ("courage the stars"). Organizationally air Force consist of the Air Squadron Command, the Support Command, the Aviation Schools Command, the Air Operations Command and two commands of the aviation districts of the 1st in Milan and the 3rd in Baria.
Italian Air Force structure, command of the air squadron (COMANDO DELLA SQUADRA AEREA).
Almost all aviation units, with the exception of training ones, are subordinate to this Command.
Basic organizational units
- - stormo (Stormo - lit., “flock”), roughly corresponding to a regiment;
- - Gruppo - analogue of a squadron;
- - squadrilla (Squadriglia) - corresponds to a link.
The most modern combat vehicles are the Typhoon fighters, which are armed with three stormos (air regiments): 4th in Grosseto (9th and 20th combat training groups), 3rd in Gioia del Colle (10th and 12th -th gr) and 37th in Trapani (18th gr).
Italian Air Force multirole fighter Eurofighter "Typhoon" photo, two have refueling probes, but the first does not
Strike aviation is represented by Tornado fighter-bombers, which are in service with the 6th Stormo in Gedi (102nd combat training, 154th and 156th groups), as well as the 50th Stormo in Piacenza (155th group , specializing in reconnaissance and electronic warfare).
Lighter AMX fighter-bombers are available at the 32nd Stormo in Amendola (13th and 101st combat training group, as well as the 28th Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and the 51st Stormo in Istrana (103rd and 132nd Reconnaissance). Sigonella is home to the 41st Stormo, which includes the 88th Group with base patrol aircraft. Most of the transport workers are concentrated in the 46th air brigade (Pisa), which includes the 2nd and 50th groups with medium-sized C-130J aircraft, as well as the 98th with light C-27J aircraft. The 14th stormo (Pratica di Mare) includes KC-767 refueling aircraft and light transport R.180, the 31st (Ciampino) - aircraft for transporting dignitaries. The 15th Stormo, headquartered in Cervia, unites helicopters assigned to five search and rescue centers located at various airfields.
"Tornado" IDS of the 6th Italian Air Force Regiment. Afghanistan, 2008.
Ground air defense is provided by the 2nd Stormo (700th and 701st groups with the Spada air defense system), the 1st Special Forces Brigade and the 313th Aerobatic Team "Frekke Tricolori" ("Tricolor Arrows") are also subordinate to the Air Squadron Command. operating on MB.339PAN aircraft.
Italian aerobatics Frecce Tricolori
Aerobatic team of the Italian Air Force "Frecce Tricolori". RIAT International Airshow, Gloucestershire, 2013
at the Flugtag air show in Germany in 1988, on a collision course, one plane rammed the group, damaging two. As a result of the disaster, about 400 people were injured and 70 died.
Italian Air Force structure
command of aviation schools.
Future military pilots undergo initial training in the 70th Stormo (Latina), which includes the 207th Group with SF.260EA propeller-driven aircraft. Basic and advanced training is provided by the 61st Stormo in Lecce. Its 213th group is equipped with MB.339A jets, and the 212th group is equipped with MB.339CD with more modern avionics.
A high-speed race between a Lamborghini and a Tornado fighter-bomber on a 3-kilometer stretch. Leading at the initial stage, Lamborghini still lost, the 38,000 hp of the Tornado did its job, it crossed the finish line at a speed of more than 750 km/h, and the sports car was more than 300
To train helicopter pilots, the 72nd Stormo (Frosignone) serves with the 208th Group (NH 500E helicopters), which also provides training for flight personnel for army and naval aviation. The Support Command includes various ground units (supply, repair, etc.), and the Air Operations Command includes two radar groups (12 radar posts).
Modernization
The Italian Air Force is currently finalizing the procurement of the last of the 87 Typhoon fighters on order.
Italian Air Force AMX during a training flight. Military air base Nellis, 2009
The Tornado and AMX aircraft are being modernized, and in the future they will be replaced by the fifth generation F-35 Lightning II fighter-bombers.
It is planned to purchase 90 of these aircraft: 60 F-35A and 30 F-35 (including 15 for naval aviation), but this number is likely to be revised downwards.
In the near future, the Air Force will include two G.550 AWACS aircraft, purchased from Israel as an “offset” for the supply of training M.346 “Master” to this country. The latter were also purchased by Italy itself - so far in relatively small quantities (15 units). The outdated basic Atlantic patrol aircraft are being replaced by ATR 72ASW aircraft, created on the basis of passenger ones. The command pays great attention to updating the fleet of search and rescue helicopters.
heavy helicopter AW101, plans to increase the fleet by 15 vehicles
To replace the light AV 212 machines, deliveries of AW 139 helicopters began, and starting from 2014, the HH-3F will be replaced by the heavier AW 101 (15 units ordered).
Italian aircraft and helicopter fleet.
Multi-role fighters
"Typhoon" F-200 (VTF-2000 - 60/11 (+ 25 ordered)
Fighter-bombers
- "Tornado" IDS/ECR - 60/15
- AMX/AMX-ET - 43/12
Basic patrol aircraft
- "Atlantic" - 4
- ATR72ASW-1 (+4 ordered)
Electronic reconnaissance aircraft
- G.222-3
Refuellers
- KS-767 - 4
Transport aircraft
- C-130J/C-130J-30/KC-130J - 5/10/6
- C-27J-12
- A319-3
- "Falcon" 900 - 5
- Falcon 50-2
- R.180-14
- SF.260 - 30
- MB.339A/PAN/CD - 34/18/29
- M.346-3(+12 ordered)
Helicopters
- NH500E-49
- AB 212 - 33
- AW139-3 (+17 ordered)
- HH-3F - 21
Unmanned aircrafts
RQ-1B-6 unmanned aerial vehicles
- RQ-1B-6
- MQ-9A - 6
On about. Work is underway to build a base for American ground-based cruise missiles in the Comiso region of Sicily. According to foreign press reports, the first 16 missiles, delivered to the base in November 1983, were brought into operational readiness at the end of March 1984.
Italy is fulfilling its NATO commitment to increase military spending by 3 percent annually. in real terms and supports the US proposal for an annual four percent increase. As the Western press notes, Italy's military spending in 1983 increased by 17.7 percent compared to 1982. and amounted to 11889 billion liras. Their share in the gross national product is 2.4 percent, and in the state budget - 5.1.
The military-political leadership of the country takes an active part in resolving the issue of standardization of weapons and military equipment states of the bloc, in joint development and production of new types of weapons systems.
According to foreign experts, the Italian government is following the lead of the US administration and supports their aggressive course on all major issues. international problems. The development and deepening of comprehensive cooperation with the United States is considered in Rome as the main condition for ensuring the “security” of the country and increasing its role in the international arena.
In an effort to raise its authority, Italy speaks out for limiting nuclear weapons in Europe. However, she did not support the peace initiatives of the USSR, in particular on the non-first use nuclear weapons, and approved the US decision to produce neutron weapons. Moreover, it has provided its air and naval bases to the American Air Force and Navy, which are armed with nuclear weapons.
According to the Western press, Italy, occupying an advantageous strategic position in the basin Mediterranean Sea, makes a significant contribution to the build-up of NATO's military power on the bloc's southern flank. Operating since 1982 " new model Defense" of Italy declares the Mediterranean region a zone of "vital interests" of the country. Under this region former boss General Staff Squadron Admiral G. Torrisi understands the area including the Mediterranean and Black Sea, as well as the Middle East, the Red Sea, oil-bearing areas of the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. The territory of Italy is considered by the military-political leadership of NATO as an important springboard for military operations against the countries of the socialist community. In accordance with the above-mentioned “new defense” model, the construction of the Italian armed forces is carried out.
Supreme military authorities. Supreme Commander The armed forces are the President of the Republic, who heads the Supreme Defense Council, which includes the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, a number of ministers (Foreign Affairs, Interior, Treasury, Defense, Finance, Industry and Trade) and the Chief of the General Staff.
The general leadership of the armed forces is carried out by Ministry of Defence(consists of five central and 19 main directorates) through the general headquarters and the main headquarters of the branches of the armed forces, and the operational department - the general headquarters. Directly to the Minister of Defense, who is appointed from among civilians and reports to general secretary, coordinating the activities of all departments of the ministry and being its main adviser on issues of recruitment, logistics, modernization of weapons and military equipment. Under the Minister of Defense there is an advisory body - the Defense Committee, which develops recommendations on improving the structure and re-equipping of troops and naval forces, increasing their combat readiness, etc. The main headquarters of the armed forces are directly responsible for the training, condition and combat use the appropriate type.
In military-administrative terms, the territory of Italy is divided into six military districts: North-Western, North-Eastern, Tuscan-Emilian, Central, Southern and Sicilian with headquarters in the cities of Turin, Padua, Florence, Rome, Naples and Palermo, respectively. The military command of Fr. is also subordinate to the commander of the Central Military District. Sardinia (headquarters in Cagliari). District commanders are responsible for combat readiness, operational and combat training of subordinate troops, and in crisis situations - for organizing and conducting activities for the mobilization and operational deployment of units and formations.
The Italian armed forces consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. Their total number reaches 373.1 thousand people, including: ground forces - 258 thousand, air force - 70.6 thousand, navy - 44.5 thousand.
Ground troops include field and territorial troops. They are directly supervised by the chief of the main staff of the ground forces (he is also the commander) through the headquarters and inspectorates of the military branches and services. He plans and organizes operational and combat training, develops an organizational structure, plans for construction, mobilization and operational deployment, and also constantly monitors the daily activities of subordinate headquarters, formations, units and military educational institutions.
IN combat strength ground forces There are: three army corps headquarters, one armored (Ariete) and three mechanized (Centauro, Mantova and Folgore) divisions, 13 separate brigades (two mechanized, five motorized infantry, five alpine and one parachute), separate missile brigade "Aquileia", five separate artillery and one anti-aircraft artillery regiment, two regiments of "Advanced Hawk" missiles, four individual shelf army aviation, other units and units of combat and logistics support.
Judging by foreign press reports, they are armed with six launchers UR "Lance", more than 1,700 tanks "Leopard-1", M60A1 and M47, 4,500 other armored vehicles for various purposes, over 1,300 field artillery guns (of which 36,203.2 mm atomic guns, 36,175 mm Ml 07, 260,155 -mm M109, 164 155-mm FH70), up to 900 mortars of 81 and 120 mm calibers. Among the anti-tank weapons there are ATGMs "Toy" (about 300 PU), "Milan" and SS-11, over 1200 75 and 106-mm recoilless guns, and from anti-aircraft - the air defense system "Advanced Hawk" (132 PU) and 40-mm anti-aircraft guns(up to 260 units). Army aviation has 480 aircraft and helicopters, including five A.109 Hirundo helicopters with Toy ATGMs.
Field troops(223 thousand people) form the basis of the expanded Peaceful time in northern Italy, a group of ground forces, which has been allocated for transfer to the operational subordination of NATO command in the South European Theater of Operations. The field forces include two army corps headquarters (3rd and 5th) and an alpine army corps headquarters (4th), four divisions, nine separate brigades (one mechanized, three motorized infantry and five alpine), a separate missile brigade, two regiment of the "Advanced Hawk" missile defense system, combat and logistics support units.
Territorial troops(35 thousand people) are intended to conduct combat operations with enemy air and sea landings, and protect important facilities in the communications zone (mainly in the central and southern regions of Italy). In peacetime and wartime, they are under the operational subordination of the national command. They consist of four separate brigades (mechanized, two motorized infantry, parachute), combat and logistics support units.
With general mobilization, territorial troops are considered by the Italian command as a base for the formation of new units and formations. In case of deployment, it is planned to recruit over 540 thousand people into the ground forces and increase their number to 800 thousand.
According to the views of the Italian command, the highest tactical formation of the ground forces is the army corps, the numerical and combat composition of which is determined by the nature of the tasks assigned to it. It may include one to three divisions, several separate brigades, separate artillery and helicopter regiments. So, 3rd Army Corps(about 24 thousand people), which, according to Italian experts, will operate in the second echelon of the group of troops, in peacetime includes the Centauro mechanized division and the separate Cremona motorized infantry brigade. The 5th Army Corps (about 66 thousand people), intended for operations in the first echelon, has two mechanized (Mantova and Folgore) and armored divisions (Ariete), a separate command of the Trieste troops (equated to a motorized infantry brigade ) and a separate missile brigade. Part 4th Alpine Army Corps(about 32 thousand people) includes five separate alpine brigades, as well as units to reinforce combat and logistics support.
Mechanized Division(over 17 thousand people) is the main tactical formation of the ground forces. It consists of two mechanized and one tank brigade, an armored cavalry reconnaissance division, two artillery battalions of 155 mm FH70 howitzers, three battalions (communications, engineering and logistics) and an army aviation squadron. It is armed with: 221 medium tank“Leopard-1”, 90 155-mm howitzers, 56 120-mm mortars, 69 81-mm mortars, 54 “Toy” ATGM launchers, 24 40-mm anti-aircraft guns and 12 AV.206 helicopters.
Armored Division(about 16 thousand people) is also the main tactical formation of the ground forces. Unlike the mechanized one, it consists of two tank and one mechanized brigade. It has the same divisional units and units as the mechanized one. The division is armed with 272 medium tanks, 90 155-mm howitzers, over 90 mortars of 81 and 120 mm calibers, 54 Toy ATGM launchers (of which 36 are self-propelled), 24 40-mm anti-aircraft guns and 12 AV.206 helicopters.
Brigades, both separate and included in divisions, have an identical organizational and staffing structure: a tank battalion consists of two tanks (51 tanks each) and one mechanized battalion, and a mechanized (motorized infantry) battalion consists of three mechanized (motorized infantry) and one tank. In addition, the brigade has an artillery battalion (18 guns), an anti-tank company (18 ATGM launchers) and a logistics support battalion. Separate alpine brigades (three or four alpine battalions, two or three field artillery divisions) do not have tanks.
Delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons of the Italian ground forces concentrated mainly in the separate missile brigade "Aquileia": the Lance missile defense division (six launchers) and two artillery divisions (36,203.2 mm howitzers). In addition, the 155-mm FH70 howitzers available in artillery battalions are adapted to fire nuclear ammunition. The United States has stockpiled in Italy, as the Italian press reports, over 800 nuclear weapons.
In 1976, a ten-year program for building the Italian armed forces was adopted. Due to financial difficulties, the deadline for its implementation was extended until 1991. By this time, the number of divisions and brigades in the ground forces is planned to remain unchanged, but their combat capabilities will increase significantly due to the arrival of new weapons systems and military equipment. The supply of Leopard-1 tanks to the troops to replace the M47, 155-mm FH70 howitzers, Toy and Milan ATGMs, and VCC-1 and -2 infantry fighting vehicles continues. Started our own production of 155 mm self-propelled howitzers"Palmyria". To increase the capabilities of units and subunits to combat enemy tanks, it is planned to receive Milan ATGMs, Folgore grenade launchers and new A.129 Mongoose helicopters.
Italian Air Force form the basis of NATO's 5th OTAK in the South European Theater of Operations. Their main tasks: gaining and maintaining air superiority, providing direct air support to ground forces and naval forces, isolating the combat area, covering troops and important installations from enemy air strikes, aerial reconnaissance and supporting naval operations in the Mediterranean Sea together with 6th aviation US Navy.
Organizationally, the Air Force has 11 air wings [ Wing is considered the main aviation unit. It consists of a headquarters, three groups (aviation, Maintenance and logistics), control units and support services. An aviation group includes one or two squadrons, which are the main tactical units, capable of operating both independently and as part of a wing. The number of aircraft depends on the purpose of the squadron: in the fighter-bomber - 18, and in the fighter and reconnaissance - from 12 to 16. - Ed.] combat aviation (over 260 aircraft), three air wings, a transport aviation brigade of auxiliary aviation and a Nike missile defense brigade -Hercules" (72 launchers, 16 of which have missiles with a nuclear warhead).
Combat aviation includes tactical aviation and air defense fighter aircraft. The first has six fighter-bomber squadrons (18 Tornado aircraft, 54 F-104S, 36 G.91Y) and five reconnaissance aircraft (36 RF-104G and 48 G.91R). The air defense fighter aviation includes six fighter squadrons (72 F-104S).
18 F104G aircraft of the 102nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Rimini Air Base) and 18 Tornado aircraft of the 154th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (Ghedi Air Base) are carriers of nuclear weapons. As the foreign press reports, 70 American nuclear bombs are stockpiled for them in Italy. In addition, the Air Force includes five squadrons of military transport aircraft (ten C-130, 40 G.222, two DC-9, six PD-808 and helicopters), two electronic warfare squadrons (13 PD-808ECM, G.222ECM, MV.326ESM), one combat trainer (15 TF-104G), several trainers ($0 G.91T aircraft, 70 MV.326 and 329, 25 SF-26OM, about 40 AV-47 and AB.204 helicopters ), four search and rescue squadrons (35 AB.204 and HH-3FJ helicopters, as well as other units performing communications, mapping tasks, etc.
On a territorial basis, all aviation is distributed across three military air districts: I, II and III, with headquarters in the cities of Milan, Rome and Bari, respectively. District commanders are responsible for the combat readiness of aviation units and subunits, plan and conduct various aviation exercises on a district scale, and with the outbreak of hostilities organize air operations and interaction with the Army and Navy.
The Air Force construction plan provides for equipping units and subunits with modern aircraft and air defense systems. Multi-role Tornado aircraft began to arrive to replace outdated G.91Y and F-104S and G aircraft. In 1983, 25 of them were delivered (it is planned to have 100 Tornadoes in combat aviation). Since 1987, it is planned to equip fighter-bomber squadrons with new AMX aircraft of Italian-Brazilian design (the Air Force needs 187 aircraft of this type).
To provide air defense for bases at low and medium altitudes, it is planned to deploy 20 batteries of Spada missile defense systems, and in the southern regions of Italy, additional radar posts that could promptly notify of an air attack.
Naval forces Italy are intended primarily for joint combat operations with the US 6th Fleet and conducting operations in the Mediterranean basin in cooperation with the Greek and Turkish Navy, as well as to support the landing and operations of amphibious assault forces, support ground forces in coastal areas, coastal defense, military - naval bases and ports of the country.
Administratively, the coast of the mainland of Italy and the islands with their adjacent waters is divided into four naval districts - Upper Tyrrhenian (headquarters at the naval base La Spezia), Lower Tyrrhenian (Naples), Adriatic (Ancona), Ionian and Strait of Otranto (Taranto) ), as well as two autonomous naval commands - the islands of Sardinia (La Maddalena) and the islands of Sicily (Messina).
Organizationally, the Navy, according to the foreign press, consists of the fleet (includes the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th divisions and the command submarines, as well as mine-sweeping ships and auxiliary vessels at the disposal of district commanders and autonomous commands), Marine Corps and aviation. In peacetime, they are under national subordination, and in case of war, it is envisaged that most of them will be transferred to the command of the joint NATO naval forces in the South European theater of operations.
Marines comprises separate battalion"San Marco" and the detachment of combat swimmers "Teseo Theseus".
To Naval Aviation includes two patrol air wings (14 Breguet 1150 Atlantic). based at the air bases of Cagliari (Sardinia) and Catania (Sicily), and five helicopter squadrons (36 SH-3D, 60 AB.212AS and 10 AB.204AS).
Colonel Yu. Alexandrov
Italy is one of the largest in the EU and NATO in terms of population, economic size and, accordingly, military potential, however, it has not been spared by the pan-European trends of significant reductions in the Armed Forces.
The country has a very powerful military-industrial complex, capable of producing military equipment of almost all classes. The level of training of Italian army personnel has traditionally been considered very low, but now it has fallen throughout Europe, so the "pasta" are no longer singled out as the worst. Like most southern European countries, Italy does not recycle a significant part of obsolete and decommissioned equipment, but leaves it in warehouses.
Ground troops
In recent years, we have experienced many organizational transformations. At the moment, they have newly restored divisions, of which there are three. The Army also includes three separate brigades and four commands.
The Tridentina division (headquarters in Bolzano) is a mountain infantry division, and includes the Alpine brigades Taurinense (Turin) and Iulia (Udine).
Division "Friuli" (Florence) - "heavy". It consists of three brigades: the armored Ariete (Venice), the mechanized Sassari and Pozzuolo de Friuli (Bologna).
The division "Aqui" (San Giorgio, Naples), being "medium", includes the brigades "Garibaldi" (Caserta), "Pinerolo" (Bari) and "Aosta" (Messina), the latter two mechanized.
Separate brigades: parachute "Folgore" (Livorno), communications and electronic warfare (both in Anzio), support (Solbiate Olona).
The MTR Command (Pisa) has 4 parachute and 3 helicopter regiments. The Army Aviation Command (Viterbo) consists of one brigade. The air defense command includes 3 regiments (4, 17, 121st), the support command - 6 (MLRS, RCBZ, self-propelled guns, two engineering and railway).
The carabinieri can be considered as an integral part of the ground forces. These are 2 divisions, 1 brigade and regional units. Submitting to the command of the Armed Forces, they solve various police tasks throughout the country as a whole. Their level of combat training is higher than that of military personnel. The Carabinieri are armed with a number of armored personnel carriers, light aircraft and helicopters, which are included in the total number of equipment.
Tank park consists of 197 C1 "Ariete" of its own production, created on the basis of the German one. The B-1 Centauro BMTV with a 105 mm cannon is often considered a “wheeled tank”. There are 300 of these machines. Of the 317 BRMs, 14 are French VAB-RECO NBC, the rest are their own Pumas. All infantry fighting vehicles are our own: 172 Freccia, 198 VCC-80 Dardo. Armored personnel carrier - about 2000: 148 Swedish Bv-206, up to 560 native VCC-1, up to 1190 VCC-2, 250 Puma, 57 Fiat-6614, 17 American amphibious AAV-7.
Artillery includes 96 old American M109 self-propelled guns and 70 newest German РzН-2000, 72 British FH-70 towed guns, up to 1000 mortars, 22 American MLRS MLRS. There are 173 of the latest Israeli Spike ATGMs, including 36 self-propelled on the Freccia BMP chassis, 702 American Tou (270 self-propelled on the M113 armored personnel carrier), 714 old French Milan.
Ground air defense contains 10 batteries of the American Hawk air defense system (60 PU), 6 batteries of the latest French SAMP/T air defense system (36 PU), 24 batteries of its own Skygard-Aspid short-range air defense systems, 145 American Stinger MANPADS, 96 of its own ZRPK SIDAM.
Army aviation has 7 light transport aircraft (3 Do-228, 4 P-180), 60 combat AW129 "Mongoose" and more than 300 multi-purpose or transport helicopters (21 AW109, 37 A109, up to 63 AB-412, 22 CH-47, 1 NH90 , to 61 AB-205, to 84 AB-206, 30 AB-212). Almost all aircraft are of our own production.
Air Force
The Italian Air Force has six commands: combat, tactical, training, logistics, and two regional (northern and southern).
Italy became the first outside the United States to begin licensed production of American F-35A fighter jets. She currently has 7 of these machines. In addition, it is armed with 75 of the latest European Typhoon fighters, in the production of which Italy itself participates (62 IS, 13 combat training IT), 72 German-British-Italian Tornado IDS bombers, 28 own MV339CD and 55 Italian-Brazilian AMX attack aircraft. 4 outdated basic patrol aircraft "Breguet-1150 Atlantic" can also be classified as combat aircraft.
The Air Force is armed with 1 Gulfstream-3 RER aircraft, 4 Boeing 767 MRTT tankers and 1 KC-130J, up to 100 transport aircraft (19 C-130J, 13 C-27J, up to 3 P-166, 27 P- 180, 24 S-208, 3 A319CJ, 2 Falcon-50, 7 Falcon-900). There are 40 UBS MB-339A and purely training: 31 SF-260EA, 7 newest T-346, 9 German Grob-103. Helicopters: 85 NH-500, up to 7 HH-3F, 30 AB-212, 2 SH-3D, 10 AW139, 13 НН-139А, 2 VH-139А, 10 UH-139, 2 HH-101.
Italy is one of two NATO countries (the other is Great Britain) that received combat UAVs from the United States - 5 RQ-1B and 1 MQ-1B Predator, 3 MQ-9 Reaper.
The Aviano airbase stores 50 nuclear B-61s for the US Air Force, and the Gedi Tore airbase stores 20 similar bombs for the Italian Air Force.
Navy
The most powerful type of the country's armed forces, and all combat units are built at their own shipyards.
There are 2 newest submarines “Salvatore Todaro” (German project 212), 2 more are under construction, 4 “Sauro” types. The aircraft carriers Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi are in service with the Navy. They are the only Western ones in their class that, in addition to carrier-based aircraft, carry not only short-range air defense systems, but also strike weapons, including anti-ship missiles. In fact, like Russian ships, they should be classified as aircraft-carrying cruisers. "Cavour", in addition, can be used as a UDC. The decommissioned helicopter carrier cruiser Vittorio Veneto is in storage.
There are 4 modern destroyers - 2 each "Andrea Doria" and "Luigi Durand de la Penne", and 2 old Audace-class destroyers are in storage. Frigates: 4 newest "Bergamini" (Italian-French project FREMM, a total of 10 are expected), 2 "Artillere", 7 "Maestrale".
The Navy, as well as the coastal and financial guards, have a significant number of corvettes, patrol and patrol ships: 4 Minerva types, 4 Cassiopeia, 4 Esploratore, 2 Sirio, 4 Comandanti, 1 Zara, 6 Saettia plus approximately 300 patrol boats. In service are 2 minesweepers "Lerici" and 8 "Gaeta", 3 DVKD "San Giorgio".
Naval aviation It is armed with 16 AV-8B Harrier fighters with vertical take-off for two aircraft carriers. It also includes 3 basic patrol aircraft P-180 and 7 ATR-42, 11 transport P-166, helicopters: 50 anti-submarine (5 EN-101ASW, up to 36 AV-212ASW), 4 AWACS (EN-101), 2 RER (AB-212ASW-EW), more than 70 transport and multi-purpose (10 EN-101, up to 12 SH-3D, 18 AV-206, 21 AV-412, 1 AW139, 11 AW109, 9 A109).
Marines consists of the San Marco regiment. It is armed with 40 VCC-2 and 18 AAV-7 armored personnel carriers, 14 Brandt mortars, 6 Milan ATGMs and 6 Spike.
A group of US troops is stationed in Italy. It consists of the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Vicenza), the 31st Fighter Wing (Aviano, in service with 21 F-16s), and a squadron of 9 P-3C base patrol aircraft (Sigonella). Gaeta (near Naples) is the headquarters of the 6th Operational Fleet of the US Navy.
In general, the current potential of the Italian Armed Forces is quite sufficient to solve the only task within NATO and the EU - limited participation in collective police operations in developing countries. On major surgery at least in your own former colony Libya, plunged into chaos with the active participation of Italy itself, its army is incapable - it will have to shed a lot own blood. For Europeans this is impossible today.
In the face of the financial crisis, the Italian Minister of Defense Giampaolo di Paola presented to the government and parliament a project for a large-scale reform of the existing structure of the Italian army. The reform consists of reducing the number of personnel and creating more modern army. But in the short term, the Army will face deep cuts to its budget and investment in military construction.
The proposed reform will lead to the creation of a new model of the Armed Forces, which should balance the costs of maintaining personnel (in the budget of the Ministry of Defense for 2012 they were 70%) and other sections of the military budget (the current maintenance of the armed forces and the purchase of new weapons and military equipment). The goal announced by Minister Di Paolo is to bring the structure of the military budget to European standards: 50% for personnel, 25% for the functioning of the armed forces and 25% for arms purchases.
Savings of about 2 billion euros, which can be obtained over the next 10 years through the reform (read, “reduction” - note P. 2) of personnel, will theoretically be invested in the purchase of new weapons. Until then, programs for the purchase of new weapons will have to tighten their belts. The procurement budget of the Ministry of Defense lost 970 million euros in 2012 alone. In 2012-2014 The Ministry of Defense must save another 3 billion euros, which will largely affect arms purchases. The budget of the Ministry of Defense will be frozen at the level of 12-14 billion euros for the period 2012-2014.
Following the announcement of a 41-unit F-35 procurement cut, other programs will soon see sharp cuts to the Defense Department's procurement budget. The procurement programs for NH90 helicopters and U212 submarines may be particularly affected.
Giampaolo di Paola | ilpost.it
List of main measures
The armed forces will be reduced from 190,000 to 151,000: 43,000 positions will be cut (of which 10,000 are civil servants) to save €2 billion. In 2021, the Army will have 18,000 officers, 18,000 non-commissioned officers, 22,300 non-commissioned officers, 56,000 full-time volunteers and 24,000 fixed-term volunteers. The number of generals and admirals will be reduced by 30%. Those people who will be affected by the reform must be transferred to other government agencies. The government also hopes to encourage their recruitment into the defense industry.
A gradual increase in investment in army renewal from 16,424 euros to 26,458 euros per soldier.
Reform of command structures: Merging overlapping command structures within the three branches of the military and eliminating area commands, which are seen as an outdated relic of the Cold War.
The abolition of two brigades, the closure of bases, the sale of unused real estate: a 30% reduction in army infrastructure (barracks, training grounds, etc.) is envisaged over five to six years. Ground forces will be reduced from 11 to 9 brigades, some will be eliminated heavy weapons, helicopters, artillery and supply units. The number of patrol ships in the Navy will be reduced from 18 to 10, as well as minesweepers and submarines (from six to four). In the Air Force, fighters and tactical strike aircraft will be cut (currently the Tornado, AMX and AV-8B aircraft are in service).
Reduction in the number of purchased F-35 fighters by 41 units: an order of 90 fighters has been confirmed. The Ministry of Defense expects to save 5 billion euros. According to Defense Minister G. Di Paola, the adoption of the F-35 will make it possible to replace almost 160 Italian aircraft, that is, one new one will replace 1.8 old aircraft. To compensate for the decline in employment at the Cameri assembly plant, the Italian Ministry of Defense is negotiating with Lockheed Martin to increase the plant's capacity. Italy expects that not only aircraft ordered by Italy will be assembled in Cameri, but also those for Holland and Norway. Let us remember that Cameri is already responsible for the production of fuselage and wing elements for aircraft intended for customers from Europe and Asia.
Preservation of the air wing of the aircraft carrier Cavour: Italy remains interested in modifying the F-35B fighter with vertical take-off and landing.
Necessary reductions in other weapons procurement programs: according to the rule approved by the Supreme Defense Council on February 8, 2012, it is possible to scale up programs (reduction, shift in funding deadlines) in order to preserve obsolete weapons that were planned for replacement at a reasonable cost. This is most true for the NH90 helicopter procurement program (416 million euros in 2011 with a total program cost of 3.8 billion euros) and U212 submarines (168 million euros in 2011 with a total program cost of 1.8 billion Euro).
Adapted from Didier Rafidiarimanda, “La sauvegarde de la BITD italienne,” CEIS Policy Papers, March 2012.
Prepared by Andrey Frolov