In order to achieve full operational capability (FOC) of the Italian Navy’s (MMI) fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Bravo ship-borne fighters, the Italian government is seeking authorization for the purchase of a significant armament package, including stand-off munitions such as the JSM and Spear 3.
Last July 4, the Italian government submitted to parliament a draft ministerial decree for the approval of a multi-year armament procurement program for the Italian Navy’s 15 F-35B fighters. The program also includes the acquisition of support systems and self-protection equipment for the F-35B.
The specific armament to be acquired includes:
Guided Bombs:
- GBU-53 (SDB II) 250 lbs: small diameter bomb.
- GBU-12, GBU-38 and GBU-54 of 500 lbs: medium caliber bombs with laser guidance kits for greater precision.
- GBU-32 of 1000 lbs: large caliber bomb with laser guidance kits for precision strikes against fortified targets.
Missiles:
- AIM-9X SIDEWINDER: short-range air-to-air missile for dogfight combat.
- AIM-120 AMRAAM: medium range missile for air-to-air combat beyond visual range (BVR).
- METEOR: long-range missile for BVR combat with high speed and maneuverability.
- JSM: long-range air-to-surface missile for attacking naval and land targets.
- SPEAR 3: medium-range air-to-surface missile to engage targets with precision in complex environments.
Ammunition:
- 25 mm ammunition for the F-35B Gatling gun.
The total cost of the program is EUR 682 million, of which EUR 650.07 million is already funded in the regular budget of the Ministry of Defense. The remaining €31.93 million will be financed through additional decrees.
Parliament has 40 days to issue its opinion on the program. If the parliament has objections, the government can resubmit the draft decree with responses to the objections. If the parliament is still against, the government cannot approve the program.
Stand-off attack capability
Possibly the most tactically relevant of the weapons package requested for the Italian F-35Bs are the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) and Spear 3 missiles, which will enable the stealth fighter to engage targets, both on land and on the sea surface, from safe distances and with high accuracy.
Joint Strike Missile: stealth and precision
The JSM is a joint development between Kongsberg (Norway) and Raytheon (USA), based on the Norwegian NSM anti-ship missile, but adapted to fit inside the F-35’s weapons bays. The new missile has a range of up to 370 km, stealthy design, and is engineered to attack high-value naval targets, including warships, cruisers and aircraft carriers, but also fixed or semi-fixed land targets. Its stealth, speed and maneuverability make it a difficult threat to enemy air defenses.
SPEAR 3: A versatile and accurate air-to-ground missile
The SPEAR 3, developed by MBDA, is a medium-range (up to 140 km) mini cruise missile designed to attack a wide range of targets, including critical structures, air defense systems, armored vehicles and troop concentrations. Its direct attack and launch capability from different angles makes it highly versatile. Its compact size and low weight (1.8 meters long and a weight of 100kg) allows an F-35 to carry up to eight of these weapons in its bays.
A very interesting sub-variant of this weapon is the Spear EW. It is a Spear missile to which an advanced Leonardo miniaturized digital radio-frequency memory and jamming elements are added. Thanks to its turbojet engine, the Spear-EW can fly over the designated area for 37 minutes, while performing active electronic jamming to blind enemy radars. It will become an essential weapon for electronic attack missions (SEAD/DEAD).
