Italy – The Defense Post

Apr- 2026 -

24 April

The ITS Paolo Thaon di Revel (P430), the lead Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA) multipurpose offshore patrol frigate

Fincantieri to Transform Italian Navy Patrol Frigates Into Full Combat Standard

Fincantieri has signed an agreement to upgrade the Italian Navy’s Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura multipurpose offshore patrol frigates into “full combat” systems.

23 April

Europe

Ethan M. Encarnacion

Can Standard Rifles Take on Drones? Italian Firm Develops New Solution

Czechoslovak Group is entering the counter-drone space with new ammunition designed to disperse tungsten pellets to take down unmanned aerial vehicles.

15 April

Europe

Christine Casimiro

Italian Navy Receives ‘Tritone’ Multi-Purpose Support Vessel

The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its upgraded “Tritone” multi-purpose support vessel at Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyard.

8 April

Americas

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 39th Security Forces Squadron pose for a group photo following the completion of a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station certification course at Cellina Meduna Range, Italy, March 26, 2025. The course certified 10 Airmen from the 39th SFS on the CROWS, expanding base defense capabilities in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Sjoberg)

Rojoef Manuel

US Base in Turkey Boosts Defense With CROWS Squad Certification

The US Air Force has certified personnel at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey on the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, expanding the pool of qualified operators for installation security.

8 April

Air

Rojoef Manuel

Canada Wants Observer Role in GCAP Fighter Program

Canada has expressed interest in joining the Global Combat Air Program as an observer, giving Ottawa access to sensitive data on the next-generation fighter being developed by Japan, the UK, and Italy.

3 April

Air

Giulia Bernacchi

GCAP Awards First Joint Contract to Edgewing to Advance Next-Gen Fighter

The agency overseeing the Global Combat Air Programme has awarded its first joint international contract to the Edgewing joint venture.

Mar- 2026 -

25 March

Arms

Christine Casimiro

Italian Navy Test-Fires Aster 30 Missile From P432 Offshore Patrol Vessel

The Italian Navy has conducted a live-fire test of an MBDA-made Aster 30 missile from the Raimondo Montecuccoli (P432) multi-purpose offshore patrol vessel (OPV).

23 March

Arms

Ariete Italian tanks move to their battle position, during the Strong Europe Tank Challenge (SETC), at the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Grafenwoehr, Germany, May 12, 2016. The SETC is co-hosted by U.S. Army Europe and the German Bundeswehr, May 10-13, 2016. The competition is designed to foster military partnership while promoting NATO interoperability. Seven platoons from six NATO nations are competing in SETC - the first multinational tank challenge at Grafenwoehr in 25 years. For more photos, videos and stories from the Strong Europe Tank Challenge, go to http://www.eur.army.mil/tankchallenge/ (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathanael Mercado/Released)

Rojoef Manuel

Rheinmetall Consortium Launches Upgrade for Italian Army Anti-Tank Mines

Rheinmetall and Italy have signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize “hundreds of thousands” of MATS anti-tank mines in the Italian Army’s stockpile.

18 March

Europe

Akhsan Erido Elezhar

No Time for Delays: Italy Launches New 3D Printer for Mission-Critical Parts

Italian firm Roboze is aiming to revolutionize additive manufacturing with a new 3D printer designed to turn polymers and composites into mission-critical parts.

16 March

Business

Rojoef Manuel

Rheinmetall’s Iveco Military Truck Unit Buyout Hits Lag Amid Leonardo Acquisition

A delay in Leonardo’s acquisition of Iveco Group’s defense subsidiary is holding up Rheinmetall’s plan to buy the Italian firm’s military truck business.

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