Italy to axe Tranche 3B Eurofighter order

Italy says it will not take up its share of the Tranche 3B production run of Eurofighters and instead will buy the F-35 JSF.

Speaking at the Farnborough Airshow on July 20, Defence Minister Ignazio la Russa said Italy would cut 25 Eurofighters from its planned buy, leaving its total Eurofighter buy at 96.

Although Eurofighter spokesmen did not comment specifically on Italy’s plans, they were quick to point to the Eurofighter’s superiority over the JSF in simulations they had conducted recently, adding that the F-35 was a successor to the A-10 and Harrier strike aircraft, and was not in the same class as the Eurofighter as an air superiority fighter.