The partnership between Raytheon and Italy’s Leonardo to sell jet trainers to the US is back on track after nearly falling apart thanks to a dispute over who calls the shots, multiple sources knowledgeable of the talks have told Defense News.
Italy’s new tank, the Centauro II, was shown off at a military test range Wednesday, as the country's Parliament continued to decide whether to fund the vehicle.
The $5.8 million deal was first announced by the Navy in June, but Leonardo was hitherto prevented from speaking about it while an ultimately unsuccessful challenge to the contract was mounted by rival Telephonics.
In a careful speech in Rome on Friday, NATO head Jens Stoltenberg welcomed European plans for a tighter defense capability, but warned the continent against creating an “alternative” to NATO.
There are calls for closer cooperation between Italian and French shipyards that could lead toward what is being described in Italy as a “naval Airbus."
The Italian army is a step closer to acquiring new tanks and assault helicopters after plans for the purchases were submitted for parliamentary approval.
Italian prosecutors have asked for a 16-year jail sentence for Mauro Moretti, the head of Italy’s Leonardo-Finmeccanica, following a deadly train crash during his time as head of Italy’s railways.
An elaborate police surveillance operation led to the arrest on Sept. 14 of Giovanni Di Guardo, an official at the base involved in logistics contracting.