Defence, a National Armaments Director arrives to coordinate all overseas acquisition programmes

A National Armaments Director to coordinate all foreign acquisition programmes. The figure is envisaged in the draft of one of the measures that landed on the table of the Council of Ministers on Friday 24 May. It is an outline of a Prime Minister's Decree amending the Consolidated Text of the Regulations of the Military Order, regarding the organisation of the Ministry of Defence. The document, reads a note released by the government at the end of the meeting at Palazzo Chigi, 'redefines the basic structure of the general-level management structures of the central technical-administrative area; adjusts the contingent of personnel in the direct collaboration offices, increasing it by 20 staff units; defines the tasks, functions and responsibilities of the recently established post of Director for Defence Policy'.

In fact, the draft provides that the Defence Minister may appoint a Director for Defence Policy, who will provide him with cooperation and support in the drafting of directives on military and industrial policy, and - the document goes on to say - 'for the related determinations within the competence of the political body, also with regard to the consequences on financial planning'.

The Director for Defence Policy connects with the Defence General Staff, the National Armaments Directorate and the other heads of the administration who have competences in the relevant subjects. This figure is chosen from among the general officers or admirals who have specific experience in the sector, or from among the senior civilian managers of the ministry or other administrations, or experts with the necessary skills.

One of the functions of the National Armaments Director is to identify and promote national and international technological research programmes for the development of armament programmes on the basis of criteria established by the Chief of Defence Staff. This figure 'is responsible for armaments policy in relation to the production of defence materials and, to this end, prepares the technical-industrial advisory elements for the minister'. The National Armaments Director 'monitors and coordinates all acquisition programmes abroad, or which in any case involve expenditure abroad. as well as all co-production and mutual interest agreements with one or more countries'. Finally, he 'monitors foreign orders entrusted to national industry, in order to deal with all problems connected with the participation of national industry in international defence co-production programmes'.

The measure also provides for solutions on the communication front: to 'develop and enhance the culture of Defence', the draft also states, 'a Committee for the development and enhancement of Defence culture, composed of experts in the fields of communication, culture, scientific and technological research'.