How to revitalise the Ministry of Defence

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how innovation is redefining global security. Technological acceleration, the availability of low-cost solutions and the widespread use of drones have turned the battlefield into a hyper-connected, multi-domain environment. Over the next ten years, we will witness a further qualitative leap with directed-energy weapons, quantum sensors and autonomous systems, alongside the expansion of the cyber domain, the cognitive dimension and space. To address these challenges, the Italian Defence has launched a military capability adaptation programme guided by the National Military Strategy and the Joint Forces General Plan. The aim is to translate the strategic vision into concrete, sustainable and interoperable capabilities, ensuring the country’s autonomy and credibility. The priority is to achieve technological symmetry across the Armed Forces, building a layered defence system capable of generating cross-cutting effects. The real challenge over the next five years lies not only in acquiring platforms, but in engaging the entire ‘national system’ – institutions, research, universities and industry – to contribute to effective deterrence within NATO and at European level. This modernisation process permeates every operational sector. In the land domain, priorities include the renewal of the heavy tracked vehicle fleet, engineering mobility and indirect fire support using long-range guided munitions and loitering munitions, alongside surface-based air defence, the modernisation of ISTAR capabilities through drones, and the cyber protection of the so-called ‘tactical bubble’. In the maritime domain, the focus is on missile engagement, air defence and anti-submarine warfare, renewing front-line vessels such as the DDX and FREMM Evo and protecting critical underwater infrastructure with specialist vessels, new-generation minesweepers and artificial intelligence. In the air domain, a multi-layer defence system is being developed, integrated with space-based systems and CAEW aircraft, consolidating the Eurofighter and F-35 programmes and focusing on the sixth-generation GCAP fighter in collaboration with the United Kingdom and Japan, as well as new stealth UAS and strategic transport aircraft. Space is becoming a priority for the protection of orbital assets, enhancing Sicral telecommunications, Earth observation and Space Domain Awareness through ground-based sensors and sentinel satellites. Finally, the cyber domain is implementing the Digital Strategy 2026–2030 by leveraging data through sovereign cloud solutions and artificial intelligence, ensuring advanced connectivity to NATO standards and securing digital architectures through the Zero Trust principle.

Over the last three years, the defence industry has undergone a profound transformation. Security is no longer perceived as a given, but as a condition to be built up and safeguarded over time. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has made it clear that deterrence depends on the ability to produce, sustain and upgrade capabilities over time. Operational readiness is measured by the continuity of deliveries and the resilience of supply chains. The central issue is not merely how much is spent, but how it is spent – transforming resources into effective and interoperable capabilities throughout the entire life cycle. The crucial point is that funding does not automatically equate to production. Rising demand requires industrial investment, expertise, materials and reliable supply chains, combined with predictable multi-year planning and an acceleration of procurement processes. It is not enough simply to acquire a system: we must ensure that it is sustainable and maintainable. Alongside the major players, the network of small and medium-sized enterprises constitutes an essential asset in rapidly evolving sectors such as electronics, cyber, critical software and autonomous systems, where value is shifting from isolated platforms to integrated and connected capabilities. This evolution requires us to overcome bottlenecks and reduce critical technological dependencies in order to safeguard national sovereignty. At the same time, the expansion of operational domains – from space to the underwater realm, from cyber to artificial intelligence – requires an industrial base capable of combining innovation, reliability and integrated resilience. At European level, the strategy aims to reduce fragmentation and duplication by strengthening a common foundation, which for Italy is not an alternative to NATO but contributes to building a more credible European pillar within the Atlantic Alliance. Looking ahead to the period 2026–2030, three key priorities emerge. The first concerns human capital and the need to attract qualified technicians in collaboration with universities and research institutions. The second is the resilience of supply chains, with rapid procurement and a reduction in dependencies. The third is Italy’s ability to make an impact on international programmes, aspiring to leadership roles in high-tech sectors. Within this framework, the National Armaments Directorate plays an essential role in building an ecosystem capable of ensuring long-term security, whilst preserving sovereignty and a leading role in the defence of the future.

Giacinto Ottaviani, Rear Admiral, National Director of Armaments

Europe and Italy are facing an exceptionally complex historical moment, in which the certainty of permanent peace has proved to be a fleeting illusion. The invasion of Ukraine has brought war back to the continent’s doorstep, forming part of a arc of global instability stretching from the Baltic to the Middle East and the Sahel. Today, three types of conflict converge on the battlefields: a traditional one, characterised by trenches and artillery; a technological one, involving drones and hypersonic missiles; and a hybrid war, aimed at undermining public opinion. This scenario has forced Western armies to adopt a radical shift in perspective. Alongside peace-support operations, large-scale combat has once again taken centre stage, interpreted through a qualitative and quantitative review underpinned by strategic pillars such as communication, the development of modern skills, training and an organisational culture open to critical thinking. In terms of capabilities, priorities align with NATO requirements and are based on the Combat Dome, a cyber and electromagnetic shield designed to protect units and degrade adversarial capabilities. The Army’s technological innovation is being developed across four main areas: the modernisation of the heavy armoured component with tracked vehicles designed for teaming with unmanned systems; the upgrading of integrated air defence; the enhancement of deep-strike firepower with precision munitions; and the development of the helicopter and drone capabilities. To this are added the integration of cyber capabilities within the electromagnetic spectrum, the establishment of units specialising in underground combat, and the widespread use of artificial intelligence in command systems. This evolution requires a modern form of interaction between the Armed Forces and the defence industry, moving beyond the old client-supplier model to build genuine synergy across the national defence system. Concrete examples of this cooperation include the AH249 helicopter, due to enter service in 2028, and the modernisation of the Ariete C2 tank. Security is not merely a military task, but a shared responsibility involving institutions, universities and research, aimed at protecting citizens and democracy.

Carmine Masiello, Lieutenant General, Chief of the General Staff of the Italian Army

In recent years, the Italian Navy’s strategic posture has evolved towards a capability to operate at depth and across multiple domains. The wider Mediterranean remains the focal point of national action, an area in which the fleet ensures a continuous presence and acts as a deterrent against traditional, hybrid and sub-threshold threats. This projection now extends beyond regional borders, from the Indo-Pacific to the Arctic, confirming a global maritime vision based on the ability to redeploy a Carrier Strike Group and to cooperate with NATO and European Union allies. To address this scenario, the Navy has embarked on a far-reaching modernisation of the fleet based on modularity. Vessels such as the multi-purpose offshore patrol vessels and the new logistics units can be rapidly reconfigured for tasks ranging from surveillance to the projection of force. The fleet is evolving into a true ‘system of systems’, where naval, aerial and underwater sensors interact with satellites and artificial intelligence, enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness and enabling a flexible response even in the grey areas of modern conflict. A fundamental pillar of this transformation is the close synergy with domestic industry and the National Underwater Centre, aimed at ensuring technological autonomy and innovation throughout the entire life cycle of these capabilities. The underwater environment now represents a primary strategic domain, given the central importance of the digital cables and energy pipelines that run along the seabed. To protect this critical infrastructure from growing vulnerabilities and hostile actions, the Navy has launched Operation ‘Safe Seabed’ and coordinated dedicated monitoring centres. Looking ahead to the coming years, technological superiority will be decisive and will be structured around specific priorities: the development of persistent capabilities in the underwater sector, the enhancement of unmanned surface, underwater and aerial systems, and the complete digitalisation of the Naval Fleet. This is complemented by cyber security, autonomy in supply chains and the enhancement of the human factor, through specialist training that is essential for managing an increasingly advanced and integrated naval ecosystem. Safeguarding the maritime domain today means ensuring economic sovereignty, global connectivity and security, which enable Italy to continue to view the sea as its natural horizon for development.

Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Admiral and Chief of the Naval Staff

We are living through a period of structural redefinition of the geostrategic landscape, marked by a global multi-crisis and the rapid evolution of threats. From high-intensity conflicts on Europe’s borders to competition in the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific, the Italian Air Force is called upon to tackle unprecedented risks. The proliferation of swarms of low-cost drones and of hypersonic and ballistic missiles necessitates the adaptation of defence systems, extending them well beyond the atmosphere. In this context, the speed of adaptation has become the new strategic paradigm, rendering traditional development cycles unsustainable. For the Air Force, partnership with industry is a key factor in dynamic deterrence, preventing capabilities from becoming obsolete. The concept of aerospace defence should be understood as a single continuum linking the lower atmosphere and outer space, requiring investment in intelligence superiority and C4ISR. At the same time, global projection capability – ensured by air mobility and in-flight refuelling – remains essential for safeguarding national interests, as demonstrated by operations conducted in distant theatres and recent humanitarian efforts. This evolution moves beyond the old client-supplier model to embrace a model of strategic co-design in line with the national system, in which the Armed Forces actively participate from the definition of requirements right through to operational deployment. A prime example is the Global Combat Air Programme with the United Kingdom and Japan, aimed at developing not merely an aircraft, but a sovereign and interoperable aerospace combat system. Similarly, the International Flight Training School, established in partnership with Leonardo, combines the Air Force’s operational expertise with advanced technology to train the pilots of tomorrow, representing a centre of excellence and a driving force for exports and the national economy. In a world where dominance of the skies and space defines a nation’s sovereignty, investing in aerospace innovation means protecting not only our forces in the field, but the future and freedom of the entire country.

Antonio Conserva, Air Force General, Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force