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With NATO members worried about possible incursions around Europe of Russian submarines, Italy has announced that it is looking to create a new squadron. In 2017, it retired its Br.1150 Atlantic aircraft and since then has relied on just four P-72A (ATR-72MP) maritime patrol aircraft, but recognises that these are better suited for peacetime missions and limited largely to surface surveillance tasks. Italy looks to its defence against submarines For that reason therefore, as a nation almost completely surrounded by sea, it has decided to create the M3A (Maritime Multi-Mission Aircraft) programme in order to rectify the defensive situation. In a joint programme managed between the Italian Air Force and Navy, the Italian Government has indicated that it plans to obtain six aircraft capable of performing anti-ship, anti-submarine, surface surveillance, and mine countermeasure missions. More than €5oo million already allocated by Italy to buy new aircraft Actual total funding is still to be revealed but according to Defense Express, €562 million has already been allocated to the 2025 budget which suggests that a final decision and the placing of a procurement order is imminent due to the perceived urgency of the matter. A decision needs to be made as to which aircraft to obtain although there isn’t a lot of choice of manufacturers. Knowing the relatively close political relationship existing between Italian premier Giorgia Meloni and President Donald Trump, the odds are on purchasing the US built P-8A Poseidon, which is already seeing service with several NATO members including Germany. Another option however is Japan’s Kawasaki P-1 which is similar in performance to the former anti-submarine aircraft operated by Italy until 2017. Italy to choose between American and Japanese aircraft options In the end, the decision will no doubt be based on a combination of performance, reliability, availability and price although there may be a little political slant in the decision making. Whatever the final choice it must be encouraging news for other NATO members that Italy has made the decision to strengthen its force with six new specialist aircraft.
