{"id":32638868,"date":"2026-11-13T16:23:03","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/?p=32638868"},"modified":"2026-11-13T16:23:13","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:23:13","slug":"italy-f-35-programme-cost-increase-115-aircraft-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/italy-f-35-programme-cost-increase-115-aircraft-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy&rsquo;s F-35 Bill Rises by More Than Half, for Fewer Jets"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\n\n<style>\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid #0F1720;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;transition:background .15s,color 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On 30 October 2026 the government sent parliament a draft decree, programme SMD 5\/2026, that continues the country&rsquo;s 2009 F-35 programme with a new multi-year funding tranche. If approved, the total programme cost rises by about 54 percent over the original 2009 estimate, while the planned fleet falls from 131 to 115 aircraft. The new money would be paid out between 2027 and 2039.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f5f5f5;border-left:4px solid #1a1a1a;padding:18px 22px;margin:24px 0\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600\">Quick Facts<\/p><ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px\"><li><strong>Document:<\/strong> Atto del Governo n. 452, programme SMD 5\/2026<\/li><li><strong>Sent to parliament:<\/strong> 30 October 2026; committee opinions due by 13 December 2026<\/li><li><strong>Programme cost:<\/strong> About 54% above the 2009 estimate (2026 economic conditions)<\/li><li><strong>Planned fleet:<\/strong> 115 aircraft (75 F-35A, 40 F-35B), down from up to 131 (69 A, 62 B) in 2009<\/li><li><strong>F-35B split:<\/strong> 20 for the Air Force, 20 for the Navy<\/li><li><strong>Payment period:<\/strong> 2027&ndash;2039<\/li><li><strong>Industrial site:<\/strong> Cameri final assembly and check-out facility, near Novara<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">What Changed Since 2009<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Italy joined the programme in 2009, it planned to buy up to 131 aircraft: 69 conventional F-35As and 62 short take-off and vertical landing F-35Bs. The total was cut to 90 under the Monti government in 2012, and raised back to 115 in the 2024&ndash;2026 defence planning document. The current plan is 75 F-35As for the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/italian-air-force\/\">Aeronautica Militare<\/a> and 40 F-35Bs, shared equally between the air force and the navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/italian-navy-f-35b-refuelled-adriatic-2022.jpg\" alt=\"Italian Navy F-35B refuelling over the Adriatic\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">An Italian Navy F-35B refuelling from a US Navy F\/A-18E over the Adriatic, May 2022. The navy is to get 20 of the 40 F-35Bs. Photo: US Navy, public domain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Defence Ministry gives four reasons for the higher bill: revised security requirements, more expensive technology upgrades to the weapon system &ldquo;also in relation to the evolution of the strategic context&rdquo;, inflation, and the euro&ndash;dollar exchange rate. The extra funding also covers adapting the jets to new technologies and munitions, longer logistic support, infrastructure and consolidating the industrial capacity at Cameri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Divided simply by the number of aircraft, the programme cost per planned jet rises by about 76 percent. That is not a unit price: the programme total includes support, upgrades, infrastructure and the Cameri plant, expressed at 2026 prices.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">What Parliament&rsquo;s Analysts Flagged<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research services of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate produced their own dossier on the decree on 9 November. It points out that the programme documents make no reference to relations with industry, international cooperation or export prospects, even though the 2009 programme was sold partly on the industrial work it would bring to Italy. The analysts also note that the total funding does not match the figure in the 2025&ndash;2027 defence planning document, and suggest that MPs ask for updates on both points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opposition members on the Senate&rsquo;s foreign affairs and defence committee secured a postponement of the debate on 10 November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;No more blank cheques for the military industry.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Peppe De Cristofaro<\/strong> &mdash; Green and Left Alliance senator, 10 November 2026 (translated from Italian)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Cameri: Italy&rsquo;s Stake in the F-35<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Italy&rsquo;s position in the F-35 programme is unusual. In 2009 the United States agreed to a final assembly and check-out facility at Cameri air base, near Novara, the only one granted to any of the partner nations at the time. Cameri, run by Leonardo, assembles Italian and Dutch F-35s, produces complete wing sets for aircraft assembled in the United States, and has been chosen as the European centre for heavy maintenance and upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/11\/dutch-f-35-first-flight-cameri-2019.jpg\" alt=\"Dutch F-35 assembled at Cameri\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">A Dutch F-35A, assembled at Cameri, on its first flight in September 2019. Photo: Defensie, CC0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SIEdwj1H-jQ\" title=\"Battesimo dell&rsquo;aria per il primo F-35 Italiano\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 24px\">The first flight of an F-35 assembled at Cameri, 2015. Video: Lockheed Martin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PRdG6ylcoog\" title=\"Nella fabbrica dove nasceranno i caccia F-35\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 24px\">Inside the Cameri factory. Video: La Stampa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;Today in the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee we secured a postponement of the debate.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Alessandro Alfieri<\/strong> &mdash; Democratic Party senator, 10 November 2026 (translated from Italian)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">What the Viral Post Gets Right<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The post going around is accurate on the substance: the government has asked parliament to approve a revised F-35 programme that raises the total cost by more than 50 percent over the 2009 estimate, for 115 jets instead of 131, citing technology upgrades, security requirements, inflation and the exchange rate, with payments running to 2039, and parliament&rsquo;s analysts did find the documents silent on industrial returns and exports. Two details need care. The per-jet figures it quotes are simply the programme total divided by the number of aircraft, not what each F-35 costs. And the analysts&rsquo; second finding, that the funding does not match Italy&rsquo;s own defence planning document, deserves as much attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Sources: Camera dei Deputati and Senato della Repubblica, Servizio Studi, dossier on Atto del Governo n. 452 (programme SMD 5\/2026, 9 November 2026); Reuters (10 November 2026); Il Fatto Quotidiano (10 November 2026); L&rsquo;Indipendente (10 November 2026); Affaritaliani (10 November 2026); Leonardo, F-35 Lightning II programme page.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\n\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\n\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\n\n\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\n\n\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>How many F-35s is Italy buying?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Italy now plans to buy 115 F-35s: 75 F-35As for the Air Force and 40 F-35Bs, split equally between the Air Force and the Navy. The original 2009 plan was for up to 131 aircraft.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why has Italy&rsquo;s F-35 programme become more expensive?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Italy&rsquo;s Defence Ministry cites revised security requirements, higher costs of technology upgrades, inflation and changes in the euro-dollar exchange rate. The revised programme also funds new munitions integration, longer logistic support, infrastructure and the Cameri plant.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How much has the cost of Italy&rsquo;s F-35 programme increased?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The revised programme sent to parliament in October 2026 raises the total cost by about 54 percent compared with the 2009 estimate, while the planned fleet falls from 131 to 115 aircraft. The extra funding would be paid between 2027 and 2039.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What is the Cameri F-35 facility?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Cameri, near Novara, is the F-35 final assembly and check-out facility run by Leonardo. It assembles Italian and Dutch F-35s, builds complete wing sets for US-assembled aircraft, and is the European centre for heavy F-35 maintenance and upgrades.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Has the Italian parliament approved the extra F-35 funding?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Not yet. The draft decree was sent to parliament on 30 October 2026, the committees&rsquo; opinions are due by 13 December 2026, and opposition senators secured a postponement of the debate on 10 November.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many F-35s is Italy buying?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Italy now plans to buy 115 F-35s: 75 F-35As for the Air Force and 40 F-35Bs, split equally between the Air Force and the Navy. The original 2009 plan was for up to 131 aircraft.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why has Italy\u2019s F-35 programme become more expensive?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Italy\u2019s Defence Ministry cites revised security requirements, higher costs of technology upgrades, inflation and changes in the euro-dollar exchange rate. The revised programme also funds new munitions integration, longer logistic support, infrastructure and the Cameri plant.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much has the cost of Italy\u2019s F-35 programme increased?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The revised programme sent to parliament in October 2026 raises the total cost by about 54 percent compared with the 2009 estimate, while the planned fleet falls from 131 to 115 aircraft. The extra funding would be paid between 2027 and 2039.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the Cameri F-35 facility?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Cameri, near Novara, is the F-35 final assembly and check-out facility run by Leonardo. 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The draft decree was sent to parliament on 30 October 2026, the committees\u2019 opinions are due by 13 December 2026, and opposition senators secured a postponement of the debate on 10 November.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/f-35-program-cost-increase-51-billion-2026\/\">F-35 Costs Jump $51 Billion: What the New Estimate Actually Says<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/switzerland-first-f35a-main-assembly-2026\/\">Switzerland&rsquo;s First F-35A Is Now Being Built &mdash; As the Order Shrinks<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Italy&rsquo;s government has asked parliament to approve a revised F-35 programme whose total cost is more than half as much again as the 2009 estimate, while the planned fleet falls from 131 to 115 aircraft. Parliament&rsquo;s own analysts say key questions are left unanswered.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":32638641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[664,670],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32638868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military-aviation","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Italy F-35 Programme: Cost Up More Than 50%, Fleet Cut to 115 | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Italy\u2019s Defence Ministry wants parliament to approve a programme budget for the F-35 more than 50% above the 2009 figure, while the planned fleet shrinks from 131 to 115 jets. 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