Italy seeks approval for major defense investments
According to Reuters, the Italian Ministry of Defense plans to spend almost 11 billion CAD over the next 11 years to purchase 24 Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Rome also plans to order over 200 Panther tanks from Germany and 350 Lynx combat vehicles.
As reported by the Defense Romania portal, citing Reuters, Italy's plans are currently in the initial stages of the procurement process. The local Ministry of Defense has just asked the government for approval to purchase the modern Typhoon jets. The request now needs to be considered by the appropriate committees. The ministry expects a decision by August 13 at the latest.
Italy plans large purchases
It should be noted that in the context of increasing Italy's defensive and offensive capabilities, the German portal Handelsblatt reported in recent days that Rome plans to place the largest order in its history with the German manufacturer Rheinmetall. This would include over 200 Panther tanks and 350 Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. The estimated cost of this initiative is approximately 30 billion CAD, and the implementation is expected to take 15 years.
Regarding the purchase of the mentioned Eurofighter Typhoon jets, the relevant ministry has just submitted a request to the authorities for approval to purchase the aircraft – this is the first step in the procurement process before work on the contract can begin. Reuters explains that more details will soon be made public.
New typhoons to replace older models
The 24 Typhoon jets are intended to replace older models currently in Italy's arsenal. These older models are expected to be retired starting in 2028. It is not yet known which specific machines will be replaced, but Defense Romania suggests older Italian Eurofighters may be the ones.
It should be noted that the Eurofighter Typhoon jets are designs dating back to the 1970s. At that time, Europe needed to replace older machines that were no longer competitive with Soviet MiG-29s and Su-27s. The British RAF thus announced the need to build a fighter jet initially designated AST-396, which soon evolved into today's Typhoon. Its first flight took place in March 1994.
This multi-role fighter, built in a canard configuration, is powered by two EuroJet EJ200 turbofan engines, each generating 13,500 lbf (20,000 lbf with afterburner). The Typhoon's wingspan is just under 36 feet, and its length extends to nearly 52 feet, with an empty weight of 24,250 pounds. These parameters are somewhat comparable to the American F-16, though slightly larger.
The Eurofighter Typhoon accelerates to a speed of Mach 2, or about 1,300 mph, while its cruising speed fully armed reaches Mach 1.3 (about 1,000 mph). The aircraft can operate at an altitude of 60,000 feet, and its range is approximately 2,300 miles. The Typhoon's primary armament is a 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon, but various types of missiles (e.g., AGM-84, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120, Storm Shadow) and smart bombs like Paveway and JDAM can also be mounted on its hardpoints.
