The reasons Italy's Army never received all the funds to modernize its heavy equipment are:
1) an army doesn't need main battle tanks, tracked IFVs, long range air defense systems, self-propelled artillery, armored bridgelayers, etc. if its adversary are the Taliban.
1/n
2) Italy focused heavily on modernizing its Navy and Air Force equipment, which costs muuuuuuuch more than army equipment.
Two F-35 (or two Eurofighter) cost the same as the yearly salaries for an entire army brigade. Italy bought 96 Eurofighter and 90 F-35.
2/n
A modern frigate costs the same as raising and equipping a tank battalion with brand new Leopard 2A7V. Since the war on terror startet Italy bought/is buying 17 frigates (and 2 aircraft carriers, 4 destroyers, 8 submarines, 3 amphibious ships, etc. etc.)
3/n
Staying with ships: Italy bought 500+ Aster-15/Aster-30 surface-to-air missiles for its Navy, which cost the same as three battalions worth of brand new PzH 2000.
Equipping two Eurofighters with a full air-to-air load of Meteor & IRIS-T missiles costs the same 4/n
as four M142 HIMARS with around 500 GMLRS missiles.
Italy's Army isn't the only one that suffered this lack of investment over the last decade. The British Army is in even worse shape... in some countries all branches of the armed forces suffered (i.e. Germany, Netherlands)
5/n
Now that more funds become available it is imperative to invest in land systems. Poland is charging ahead and buying more tanks than France, Italy, Germany and the UK posses now.
Italy's Army has the plans how to modernize and grow its capabilities ready since 2014.
6/n
And Europe doesn't need an increase in troops (European NATO members field 150+ brigades, vs. 31 active US Army brigades). What Europe needs is more and newer equipment, a lot more logistics to move troops and equipment, and especially more of this smiley fella:
7/end
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Italy's 61º Stormo received enough of the new T-345A basic jet trainers to begin pilot training this June.
As everyone knows, I am all for growing European militaries and adding capabilities... but why does EVERYTHING have to be with US engines?
Europe must stop buying US
1/22
made kit, components and weapon systems.
The Italian T-345A (left) and the Czech L-39 Skyfox (right) are the only two basic jet trainers currently in production in Europe... and both use a Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan made in Ogden, Utah.
Yes, there are more 2/n
American components than just the engines in both, but as aircraft are designed around their engines Europe needs to stop buying American and start building engines again.
Both planes the T-345A and L-39 Skyfox replace used European engines: the Italian MB-339 (pic) 3/n
To my American followers: it is time to plan for exile.
Doesn't mean you will have to leave, but based on experiences of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany after 1933 here are a few things to make escape and exile easier:
1) get an up to date passport (the regime might no issue you
1/12
one in the future thus stranding you) 2) if possible get a passport from another nation. It doesn't matter which; just get a passport the regime can't cancel. 3) open bank accounts in a foreign nation (I can't stress this enough! The regime will freeze your American accounts,
2/n
which will prevent you i.e. from booking a flight; and you will arrive in another nation penniless if you do not shift your funds into a non-American bank in a non-American nation ASAP) 4) plan for the regime putting you on a no-fly list. How can you get to the border and to
3/n
I am sorry 🇸🇪 Sweden, but I must talk about the Blekinge-class submarine procurement disaster.
Because it exemplifies what happens, when a nation guts its defence budget AND nonetheless demands from its defence industry to deliver cutting edge systems.
This never works!
1/25
Sweden built its first submarine HM Hajen (pic) in 1904.
Since then Sweden continuously built submarines at Kockums' shipyard in Malmö and at the state owned Karlskrona shipyard.
Between December 1954 and December 1988 (34 years) the two yards launched 24 newly built and 2/n
6 upgraded submarines (The latter, the Jaktubåtarna boats, were extensively reconstructed WWII era coastal submarines).
From 1960 to 1979 Swedish defence spending was always above 3%... in 1980 the decline began, but when the last Västergötland-class submarine was launched 3/n
Those of us, who have been at Euromaidan, know that Ukrainians are fearless, fight for freedom, and never surrender.
Even if the US betrays them, they will fight on.
If you ever met a Ukrainian, you would know that.
Trump etc. have no clue, about these people. 1/9
Ukrainians stood their ground and defend their capital against these russian stormtroopers for months... in the deepest winter.
Ukrainians, like the English, Scottish, Welsh and North Irish during the Blitz 1940, never surrender. They will continue the fight even if alone. 2/9
I lived in Ukraine from 2009 to 2015... the Ukrainian people want to be European and free.
They already fought two revolutions in this century for freedom and Europe.
Now Ukrainians fight bloodiest war in 80 years to keep Europe safe from tyranny and destruction. 3/9