Italy Armed Forces thread:

Helicopter Crash Near Italy In Ellis County


A new helicopter being developed by Bell has crashed near the community of Italy in Ellis County, just off Interstate 35E, while participating in test operations, Texas officials say. Both crew members were killed.

The accident happened at about 11:45 a.m. CT on Wednesday when the Bell 525 aircraft went down in south Ellis County, in the area of Farm to Market 876 and Bell Branch Road, which is just northwest of Italy. The aircraft then burst into flames and was completely destroyed.

Bell Helicopter confirmed in a statement that the helicopter was conducting "developmental flight test operations" from its Xworx site in Arlington when the aircraft went down. The helicopter was reportedly flying in formation with two other helicopters.

County officials said two people were killed in the crash but provided no other information, and there was no word on their identities. Lynn Lunsford, a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), said a total of two people were on board the aircraft.

The Bell 525 Relentless is under development by Bell Helicopter and made its first test flight in July 2015. The aircraft is capable of carrying up to 20 passengers, has a maximum cruise speed of 162 knots and a maximum flying range of 570 nautical miles.

"FAA investigators are on their way to the accident site, and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified," Lunsford said. Details about the possible cause of the crash were not immediately known.

"Bell Helicopter representatives are headed to the site to assess the situation and provide any assistance to local, state, and federal authorities," the aircraft manufacturer said in a brief statement. "We will provide additional updates as we learn more."

Italy's Leonardo (former group Finmeccanica) January 13, 2017 announced that it had signed with the Italian Ministry of Defence contract for the supply of the Italian Air Force first five new jet trainer aircraft M-345 NO, and on the creation of a new combat helicopter on NEES program (Nuovo Elicottero da Esplorazione e Scorta) for the Italian army aviation. The total value of the contracts exceeds EUR 500 million (at the cost of detail is not given).



http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2374928.html

Hi, I post this new topic in order to know what hopefully impartial Russian people thinks about the plan for the renewal of the Italian Navy.
At this moment ( spring 2018 ) Italy is building for its navy:
- 1 LHD class Trieste (30.000 tons)
- 7 PPA in 3 different versions light, light+ and full (between 4.000 and 5.000 tons depending on the version)
- 4 FREMM Fregates
- 2 U212 subs
- 1 27.500 tons supply ship
(If you want any more info about these ships like armaments etc etc I really suggest you to take a look at the YouTube video “New Italian Navy Ships (Spring 2018)” (unfortunately I still can’t post the link to it)
)
Let me know, thank you

Not army related but I do not want to create a new topic.

Where is our soft power, I bloody wonder once again!

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-27/italy-chaos-country-vote-again-after-president-blocks-government-unclear-what

These bastards established a junta against a newly elected government. Russia et all should go full gear on UN here, Yemen or Sudan way. Attack is the best defence.

The Italian army ordered the first ten armored vehicles Centauro II

On July 24, 2018, the Italian Army Command issued a contract to Consortium Iveco-Oto Melara (CIO) consortium for the manufacture and delivery of the first ten serial wheeled armored vehicles Centauro II (officially designated as New Blindo Centauro) equipped with 120mm / 45 guns. The value of the contract is EUR 159 million (including training and technical support), of which EUR 65 million will go to Iveco Defense Vehicles (the military unit of the Iveco group). In total, the Italian army plans to purchase 136 armored vehicles Centauro II to partially replace the fleet of Centauro I.



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3284165.html

Bergamini class FREMM variants, ASW and GP
1st with a 76 mm gun other 127 mm and 4 Milas replace 4 Otomat

The Italian army received the first armored vehicles LMV 2



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3447354.html

The first serial Italian training aircraft М-345 НЕТ

According to the Italian company Leonardo, on December 21, 2018, at the aerodrome of its enterprise in Venegono Superiore near Varese (the former Aermacchi plant) made the first flight of the first M-345 training jet aircraft built for the Italian Air Force (Italian military number C.R. .Х.624). In fact, this is the first aircraft М-345 НЕТ new construction in general.



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3469293.html

Italian Air Force gets four more aircraft M-346



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3537314.html

Italian Army Aviation Purchases AW169 Helicopters

The Italian Ministry of Defense reported that on April 15, 2020, it signed a contract worth € 337 million with the Italian company Leonardo for the supply of the first 15 new twin-engine multi-purpose AW169MA (Multiruolo Avanzato) helicopters under the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program for the Italian army. The contract also includes the cost of completing the R&D for this machine in this military modification and technical support and training for a period of nine years (with an option for another four years).

This contract is an extension of the framework contract concluded on December 20, 2019, which provides for the supply to the Italian Ministry of Defense of two Leonardo AW169 helicopters in the commercial configuration ABC (Addestratore Basico Commerciale) as training (with a guarantee of 400 hours per year for each helicopter) training of flight and instructor personnel on them and the beginning of R&D on the creation of a military version of AW169MA under the program of the Italian army aviation in accordance with the requirements for a new light (rather medium) multi-purpose helicopter Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The supply of 15 AW169MA helicopters should be made in 2022-2023.

In accordance with the terms of the contract of April 15, the maximum take-off weight of the AW169MA military helicopter is limited to 5100 kg.

Recall that the commercial AW169 helicopter has been mass-produced by AgustaWestland (now Leonardo Helicopters as part of Leonardo) since 2015. The helicopter has a maximum take-off weight of up to 4850 kg, is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney PW210A turboshaft engines with a take-off power of 1000 hp. and carries up to 7-10 passengers. To date, about 100 commercial vehicles have been delivered, and the total portfolio of orders for November 2019 amounted to more than 200 units.

In November 2018, the Italian military guard (Guardia di Finanza) ordered 22 helicopters in the “militarized” modification of AW169M under a contract worth 280 million euros, the first helicopter was delivered to it in November 2019, and the rest was scheduled for delivery by the end of 2024. Another AW169M helicopter ordered by the Argentine gendarmerie.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3998017.html

Italian Navy Cavour Aircraft Carrier Launches Sea Trials After Modernization

On May 6, 2020, the flagship of the Italian Navy, the light aircraft carrier Cavour (550) left the Taranto naval base for sea trials after modernization work, which took place from December 2018. It is reported that after going to sea, the ship’s crew should begin preparations for deployment off the east coast of the United States, where they will undergo tests for landing and taking off from the aircraft carrier of F-35B fighters.

In addition to the conventional take-off and landing version of the F-35A, Italy purchased 30 F-35B fighters for the Navy. A number of aircraft with a shortened take-off and a vertical landing will replace the obsolete AV-8B Harrier deck-based attack aircraft as part of the aircraft carrier’s wing.

The Italian Navy received its first F-35B in January 2018.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4017586.html

The Italian Navy's Cavour aircraft carrier left the Arsenale Militare Marittimo (Maritime Military Arsenal) of Taranto after completing a 16 months refit and upgrade period to operate F-35B Joint Strike Fighters.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/05/italian-aircraft-carrier-cavour-completes-16-months-f-35b-upgrade/

Italian army buys additional Centauro II armored vehicles

On May 28, 2020, the National Arms Administration (Direzione Nazionale degli Armamenti) of the Italian Ministry of Defense announced a contract with the Italian consortium CIO (Consorzio Iveco-Oto Melara - created by Iveco and Leonardo - formerly Oto Melara, which is part of the latter) for the supply of land Italian troops 40 additional new wheeled (8x8) Centauro II armored vehicles (Nuove Blindo Centauro) with 120-mm guns.

These 40 cars must be delivered in a new version 3.0, together with the previous version 2.0, in which the first 10 production Centauro II cars were ordered. The contract price includes the conversion of a prototype Centauro II machine from version 2.0 to version 3.0 and its testing. The contract also includes a 10-year warranty service and the supply of spare parts and necessary equipment, including repair, training of personnel, and the supply of four spare sets of armored hulls and towers of Centauro II.

The contract option includes another 56 Centauro II vehicles (also in version 3.0), three armored repair and recovery vehicles on the chassis of the VBM Freccia wheeled armored personnel carrier, five spare sets of Centauro II armored vehicles and towers, service support, etc. The total value of the contract (with an option) is 1.1595 billion euros, which should be allocated from 2020 to 2030.

Earlier in July 2018, the Italian Ministry of Defense issued a CIO contract of € 159 million for the supply of the first 10 Centauro II production vehicles (2.0 version) to the Italian army, which should be delivered from the first quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022.

The main external difference between the machine version 3.0 and version 2.0 will be the rejection of the characteristic four large circular integrated integrated antennas of the RCIED system installed on the prototype of the machine, combining communications, an identification system and a navigation system. They will be replaced in version 3.0 with a more compact four-sided antenna with headlamp mounted on the roof of the tower.

Also on machine version 3.0, new smoke grenade launchers (Rheinmetall ROSY), a new driver’s observation device, a fire control system (including for the possibility of using programmable 120 mm ammunition) should be installed, a machine-gun remotely controlled Leonardo HITROLE Light Mod turret should be installed . L2R, increased protection of the ammunition shell of gun shots, measures have been introduced to improve habitability.

Recall that the development of a new generation of cannon armored vehicles Centauro II (Nuova Blindo Centauro) with an 8x8 wheel arrangement was carried out by the CIO under a contract issued in October 2010 by the Italian Ministry of Defense. Centauro II is the ideological development of the famous Italian armored vehicle B1 Centauro created by CIO with a 105-mm gun, which has been in production since 1987 (more than 500 units were built, of which 400 were delivered to the Italian army, in addition, deliveries were made to Spain and Oman). A number of countries showed interest in the B1 Centauro, and in 2000-2002 16 cars were tested in the US Army, and in 2012-2014 two cars (in versions with 105 mm and 120 mm guns) were tested in Russia.

The Centauro II prototype was manufactured at Oto Melara in La Spezia in 2015. Currently, the Italian army plans to purchase a total of 136 to 150 Centauro II vehicles to replace most of the remaining fleet of Centauro B1 vehicles (of which 259 remain in the Italian army).

The Centauro II armored vehicle has a chassis based on the chassis of the VBM Freccia armored personnel carrier (8x8), but with a new armored body and a new Iveco Vector 8V diesel engine with more than 720 hp. (versus 520 hp for the old Centauro and 560 hp for Freccia). The combat weight of the Centauro II is officially 30 tons (versus 24 tons for the Centauro), but in fact, in fully equipped form, perhaps more. The length of the Centauro II hull is 7.4 m, the width is 3.14 m, the clearance is 0.4 m. The machine has an increased level of ballistic and mine protection.

Centauro II is equipped with a specially designed for it new tower (fighting compartment) Oto Melara (Leonardo) HITFACT II (Highly Integrated Technology, Fire Against Combat Tank), made of aluminum armor with an additional overhead composite ballistic protection. The calculation of the tower includes three people (commander, gunner, loader), placed in anti-mine seats.


The HITFACT II tower of the Centauro II is equipped with a 120 mm / 45 smooth-bore gun developed by Oto Melara (an optional 105 mm / 52 cannon can be used). The 120 mm / 45 gun has high ballistics, a muzzle brake and recoil reduction mechanisms, and is also equipped with a sensor for measuring the initial velocity of the projectile. The 120mm armor-piercing armor-piercing projectile designed for this gun is said to have armor penetration of 600 mm homogeneous steel armor (RHA) from a distance of 3000 m (angle not communicated). The 105-mm armor-piercing armor-piercing submunition shell of the Centauro armored vehicle has an armor penetration of 480 mm RHA from 2000 m. The shells in the HITFACT II turret are located in the aft compartment behind the fire barrier with a lockable door.

It is reported that the Italian army is considering the use of modern 120-mm rounds produced by the German Rheinmetall group used in Leopard 2 tanks - armor-piercing submachine guns DM53A1, multi-purpose DM11 with programmable fuse, high-explosive fragmentation RH31 (simplified version DM11 ) and practical DM78. Successful test firing of these shells from a Centauro machine with a 120-mm cannon was carried out in early 2015.

With a 120-mm cannon on a Centauro II machine, the 7.62-mm MG-42/59 machine gun is paired. A 12.7 mm M2 machine gun is mounted on the roof of the tower in the HITROLE Mod remotely controlled turret. L2R, and a 7.62 mm machine gun on a manual turret. The HITFACT II is equipped with a digital electric guidance system, duplicated by the commander and gunner.

The commander and gunner have a modern system for displaying information on large screens. The commander has nine optical periscopes for all-round visibility. The duplicated new automated architecture modular fire control system of the open architecture includes a digital computer, an automatic target tracking system and weather sensors. The commander has a new panoramic stabilized sight Leonardo Attila D, which includes a digital camera with the ability to 10x zoom, Erica-FF thermal imaging camera and a laser rangefinder. The gunner has a new stabilized Leonardo Lothar-S sight, which includes, in addition to a digital camera, a third-generation thermal imaging camera Tilde-A and a laser rangefinder, also a backup optical sight. The tower also installs the Leonardo SICCONA tank information and control system equipment (SIstema di Comando, COntrollio e Navigazione) and radio-electronic jamming suppression equipment for explosive devices.



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4045744.html

The Italian army received the first helicopter AW169

On July 10, 2020, the Leonardo Helicopters division of the Italian company Leonardo transferred the first training helicopter AW169 from two ordered by the Italian Ministry of Defense on December 20, 2019 to the Italian army. These first two AW169 helicopters are delivered in the commercial configuration ABC (Addestratore Basico Commerciale) as training with a guarantee of a flight time of 400 hours per year for each helicopter, and will receive the military designation UH-169B. The second helicopter will be delivered "in the next few months."


The first training helicopter Leonardo Helicopters AW169 (UH-169B), transferred to the Italian army, 10.07.2020 (c) Leonardo Helicopters

UH-169B helicopters will be operated in the 2nd Army Regiment "Sirio" of the Italian Army, based in Lamezia Terme (Calabria), and should provide training for the flight and instructors for the multi-purpose AW169MA helicopters planned for serial delivery by the Italian Army ( Multiruolo Avanzato) under the program of the new light (in fact, medium) multi-purpose helicopter Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). In the future, helicopters under the LUH program should replace the entire fleet of multi-purpose helicopters of the Italian army aviation - helicopters A109, AB206, AB205, AB212 and AB412.

In April 2020, the Italian Ministry of Defense signed a contract worth € 337 million with Leonardo for the supply of the first 15 new AW169MA helicopters under the LUH program for Italian army aviation. Delivery should be made in the years 2022-2023. The contract also includes the cost of completing R&D for this machine in this military modification and technical support and training for a period of nine years (with an option for another four years).

The AW169 commercial helicopter has been mass-produced by AgustaWestland (now Leonardo Helicopters as part of Leonardo) since 2015. The helicopter has a maximum take-off weight of up to 4850 kg, is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney PW210A turboshaft engines with a take-off power of 1000 hp each. and carries up to 7-10 passengers. To date, about 100 commercial vehicles have been delivered, and the total portfolio of orders was more than 220 units.

In November 2018, the Italian military guard (Guardia di Finanza) ordered 22 helicopters in the “militarized” modification of AW169M under a contract worth 280 million euros, the first helicopter was delivered to it in November 2019, the rest was scheduled for delivery by the end of 2024. Another AW169M helicopter ordered by the Argentine gendarmerie.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4084363.html

The Italian Air Force received the first two serial M-345 High Efficiency Trainer (HET)

On December 23, 2020, the first two serial new M-345 NET jet trainers (military designation T-345A) built by the Italian company Leonardo arrived at the 61st Regiment (61 ° Stormo) of the Italian Air Force at the Lecce-Galatina airbase. ... The aircraft have tail numbers 61-202 (Italian military number MM55234) and 61-203 (Italian military number MM55235).







https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4221738.html

First landings and takeoffs of F-35B aircraft on the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour

On March 1, 2021, two fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fighters with a short take-off and a vertical landing, which should make up the air group of this ship, landed for the first time on the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour, located off the coast of the United States. Both F-35B aircraft belonged to the United States Marine Corps, but were piloted by Italian pilots. Thus, test flights of the F-35B were launched from the deck of Cavour, which are to last several weeks.








https://dambiev.livejournal.com/2242407.html

Quite a lot of sea water spray getting kicked up by the F-35 in the hover beside the ship...

Italian F35 intercepted by Russian Su 30...or the other way around lol over Baltic sea.

Video from Russian Air Force Antonov An-12BK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAlfSVjAVz8

News source: https://www.itamilradar.com/2021/06/09/close-encounter-over-the-baltic/

UAE expelled Italian military base from its territory

bmpd
June 27th, 15:00
According to the French website "Zone Militaire" , the United Arab Emirates demanded from Italy by July 2, 2021, to close its forward logistics airbase operating at the Emirati Al-Minhad airbase in Dubai, and to withdraw the entire contingent of Italian troops from there. (about 100 people). The requirement has not been officially announced so as not to create undue political resonance, but, according to Italian sources, the Italian side has already begun to implement it. Italian Forward Air Logistics Base at Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai (UAE) (c) www.opex360.com


The Italian Forward Air Logistics Base (FLAB) was established in the UAE mainly to assist in the provision of the Italian military contingent in Afghanistan, as well as in Iraq and the Horn of Africa, and since 2002 has been located at Al Batin Airport (in Abu Dhabi ), but was relocated to Al Minhad Air Force Base in Dubai in 2015. At the base, two military transport aircraft of the Italian Air Force are constantly on rotation.

The UAE's demand to expel the Italian base from its territory was a reaction to the decision taken in January 2021 by Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio to revoke the licenses for the export of unguided aircraft missiles and bombs to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from the Italian company RWM Italia (a subsidiary of the German concern Rheinmetall). Earlier, the supply of these weapons was temporarily suspended by the Italian authorities due to the involvement of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the conflict in Yemen (and the UAE also due to its involvement in the conflict in Libya). At the same time, Luigi di Maio publicly announced the introduction of a de facto ban on the export of these weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying that "we believe that this is our duty, a clear message of peace coming from our country."

It is reported that since the beginning of June, in response, the UAE began to obstruct the access of transport aircraft of the Italian Air Force to its airspace, and then completely demanded that the Italians get out of their territory.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4339194.html

The new Italian UDC Trieste entered factory sea trials.

On August 13, 2021, a new Italian multi-purpose landing ship (LHD) Trieste was launched for the first sea trials at the shipyard of the Italian shipbuilding association Fincantieri in Castellammare di Stabia near Naples. UDC Trieste with a length of 245 meters has a total displacement of 32306 tons. Full speed 25 knots, economic - 16 knots, small (under electric motors) - 10 knots. Cruising range at economic speed of 7000 miles, autonomy of 30 days. The ship has a capacity of 1064 people, of which 460 people are the regular number of the crew with an air group, and 604 people are the landing force. The UDC is equipped with a tank hold with an area of ​​more than 1200 square meters (capable of receiving equipment weighing up to 60 tons) and a dock chamber measuring 50 by 15 meters, which can accommodate four LCU-type tank landing boats or one LCAC American-type air cushion landing boat. The ship provides a permanent base for 12 large AW101 or NH90 helicopters, or, alternatively, six F-35B aircraft and four helicopters. There are nine helicopter pads on the flight deck.





https://dambiev.livejournal.com/2386060.html

The first prototype of the modernized Italian tank Ariete

The first flight of the new Italian combat helicopter Leonardo AW249

bmpd
August 24th, 19:00
As reported, on August 12, 2022, at the Leonardo Helicopters enterprise (a division of the Italian company Leonardo) in Vergiate (Italy), the first prototype of the advanced combat helicopter AW249 created in the interests of the Italian armed forces (experimental military number CSX82069) made its first flight. The first flight lasted about 30 minutes and included not only hovering, but also slow movement forward and sideways. Since August 12, the first AW249 prototype has reportedly completed seven flights.





https://bmpd.livejournal.com/4576995.html

Italy will acquire HIMARS missile systems

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/us-department-of-state-approves-m142-himars-sale-to-italy

Following in the RN footsteps into W. Pac: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/italy-just-sent-its-aircraft-carrier-chinas-doorstep-211604

https://theaviationist.com/2024/06/24/cavour-indo-pacific-campaign/