Nato, Crosetto: 'Available on Samp-T and radar aircraft Portolano: no role reversal between armed forces and defence industry

The meeting in Rome was an opportunity to promote the synergy between Defence, industrial capabilities and scientific research, particularly in the cyber, artificial intelligence and space sectors, and in their dual applications (military and civil). The tool is, or rather will be, a popular study, with a scientific connotation, on the subject of so-called 'Defence Procurement', i.e. the procurement and management procedures of military weapons programmes conducted by states through their own competent bodies or agencies specifically with this objective. The study, which will involve companies, universities and public institutions, will last about eight months, after which it will be published.

Da sinistra a destra, il ministro della Difesa Guido Crosetto e il Capo di Stato Maggiore della Difesa, Luciano Portolano (fonte Ansa)

A 'Manifesto of Intent' was signed today between all stakeholders. The project will be developed through three technical working groups composed of representatives from companies, universities and institutions, in which mainly university researchers will participate. This work will lead to a popular text with a scientific connotation, the results of which will be collected in a publication. "The presence of the world of research," explained Chief of Staff Luciano Portolano, who spoke at the conference, "will allow us, on the one hand, to receive analysis and food for thought and, on the other, to create a neutral and informal space for discussion, enabling defence to open up further to osmosis with the civil sector, also through dual technologies (ICT, Cyber and Space). As I have always maintained as National Armaments Director,' he added, 'although the Armed Forces and industry move along different tracks, these must never be divergent and, furthermore, it is important that there is never a reversal of roles, with industry expressing operational needs and defence deciding industrial strategies. And as Chief of Defence Staff, I confirm this position'. Indeed. he continued, 'the prerequisite of an efficient system is to be balanced. As a 'system', it must keep its different components connected, but without confusing their roles. Moreover, the balance must be ensured by the common pursuit of the national interest, especially at the strategic level, seeking an approach that is more pragmatic than ideological'.

"We have proposed to Minister Crosetto a preliminary list of national programmes based not only on our capacitive requirements but also on the industry's production capacities," added Portolano, referring in this way to the spending possibilities linked to European funds Safe (Security Action for Europe). "The inclusion of these programmes in Safe will make it possible to promote the positioning of the national industry on the European market with a view to the defence system, contributing to an increase in the return on both national know-how and gross domestic product,' Portolano said, adding that 'access to the Safe fund - as well as enabling us to acquire critical, urgent and indispensable defence capabilities - will be able to contribute to meeting NATO's requirements without immediately burdening the state budget. Asked about Italy's defence priorities on the sidelines of the Forum, Crosetto commented: 'It is not that there are purchases that are more necessary than others: rather, there are more defences, land, cyber, naval, air, missile. There is a list on which we will move forward in parallel in all sectors'.

Defence companies also participated in the meeting. "We must spend more but also better by trying to avoid waste and delays in the use of resources. It is important for projects to be complementary to NATO projects, and then it is important to have a multi-year financial plan because this helps the MEF to make forecasts of the impact on public accounts and debt," said Fincantieri's chairman, Biagio Mazzotta, who then insisted on the importance of respecting delivery times and the need to "guarantee certainty and stability of resources". "The issue of defence investments and their financing is central today and is also addressed from the perspective of its EU dimension. Clearly, at European level, there is a need to defragment, i.e. to reduce the number of platforms and to spend better, as well as to spend more,' he concluded.

"In the defence sector, the European Union has abandoned its 'Sleeping Beauty' steps and has made considerable resources available to states," recalled Leonardo Stefano Pontecorvo, Chairman of Leonardo, in his speech. However, he also added: 'Industrial consolidation in the defence field is a very difficult thing. I believe that the road taken by Leonardo is the most correct one, and that is that of synergies linked to specific projects'. Pontecorvo recalled Leonardo's JV with Rheinmetall for the European tank and that with Baykar for drones. 'Then,' he added, 'there are other forms of ccollaboration: for example, such as the acquisition of Iveco Defense and those initiated in cybersecurity with the purchase of Axiomatics in Finland. With regard to the upcoming JV with Thales and Airbus on satellites, Pontecorvo said: "I hope that by September we will be able to sign an alliance in space with the French companies.

Lorenzo Mariani, managing director and general manager of Mbda Italia, speaking from the industrial perspective of Europe's leading missile and defence technology manufacturer consortium, sent out a clear message: "If we want to go in a credible and strong way as Italy towards a European defence," he stressed, "it is fine to spend more and harmonise requirements, but it is fundamental to understand first where we have to invest and really invest, before going to the collaboration tables, because what we will pick up on the collaboration tables depends on how much we have worked beforehand.