As specified by the Italian Government, the systems of planned acquisition allow the pursuit and consolidation of information superiority and decision-making timeliness, indispensable pillars for the success of military operations. The operational objective is, therefore, to safeguard the ability to identify, locate and counter possible threats as well as to develop immediate threat warnings, in order to increase the level of security and protection of personnel within the Joint Operations Area and in line with the objectives of the Joint ISR.
In this framework, the program provides for the enhancement and adaptation of Electronic Warfare (EW), Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) and Human Intelligence (HUMINT) capabilities, through the acquisition of systems operating in the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sector and in the electromagnetic environment, including maintenance in service and infrastructural adjustments for the correct storage of materials. The EW, IMINT and HUMINT structures, through their integrated use, allow to develop immediate warnings that, if shared and communicated to decision-makers in real time, contribute to making the decision-making process and issuing orders more effective, to safeguard the safety of the forces employed and the fulfillment of the task, constituting an incremental factor of power.
More in detail, the Electronic Warfare (EW) systems are intended to equip the 33rd EW Regiment based in Treviso, a specialized unit of the Army fed with volunteer personnel from all the Army Weapons and Corps and delegated to provide electronic warfare support to units in operations. Such systems shall ensure the effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum (considered a genuine operating environment) by providing the ability to monitor, locate possible threats and, where appropriate, implement appropriate electronic countermeasures. The project involves the supply of vehicle systems, integrated both on new generation light tactical vehicles, and installed on specific standardized shelters, to be moved by means of tactical trucks. In any case, the vehicles identified are of the type already in service in the Armed Forces, in order to ensure maximum interoperability.
The Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) systems are intended to equip the 41st IMINT Regiment “Cordenons” based in Sora (FR), a specialized department of the Army coming from the Artillery Weapon responsible for ensuring, among other things, the surveillance of the battlefield. These systems provide the ability to detect ground targets (humans and vehicles), aircraft (remotely piloted aircraft and fixed-wing l-rotating vehicles in low-altitude flight) and ensure day and night vision capability. In consideration of the peculiarity of the systems, in order to ensure continuous adherence to the maneuver, specific shelters are provided dedicated to the necessary maintenance of the systems.
The Human Intelligence Systems (HUMINT) are intended to equip the 13th HUMINT Regiment stationed in Anzio (RM), the only specialized unit of the Army that develops all the peculiar activities related to the research, collection and enhancement of information from human sources. Powered by volunteer personnel from all Army Weapons and Corps, the battalion is part of the Tactical Information Brigade and is organized to employ its units in out-of-area missions in small nuclei. The assets of planned acquisition consist essentially of multi-role light tactical vehicles, of the type already in service in the Armed Forces.
As regards duration, the programme is designed according to a multiannual development plan planned to start in 2022 and a total duration of thirteen years (2022-2034). The total cost is estimated at 527 M€. The expenditure relating to the first phase, for a total amount of € 57.08 million, is financed from the appropriations deriving from the chapters of the investment sector of the Ordinary Budget of the Ministry of Defense within the resources available under current legislation. This phase, implemented independently and independently from the others with a view to giving it certain self-consistency, will guarantee the start of the renewal of the ISR capacity through the acquisition of a first quantity of surveillance systems and EW systems (the latter suitable, in their essential functions, to safeguard the Electronic Counter Measures-ECM capacity, to ensure the units in operations the effective and safe use of the electromagnetic environment), in order to help raise the level of security and protection in operations for self-consistent operational packages.