GENOA, Italy — Italy is the second Eurofighter Typhoon partner nation to opt for a multi-year support package with industry.

Rome has agreed to a 600 million euro ($891.3 million), five-year deal, with the contract signed between Eurofighter, representing industry, and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency on the behalf of the Italian air force. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) already has a long-term support contract in place.

Italy’s Integrated Supply Chain Management Service (ISCMS) is intended to provide a high level of operational availability at an affordable cost. Industry support will be provided at the Italian air force’s two main operating bases at Grosseto, Tuscany, and at Gioia del Colle, Puglia, as well as at the air force’s main logistics center for the Typhoon at Cameri in Piemonte.

Alenia Aeronautica will act as the lead company on behalf of Eurofighter, with the work also involving Selex Galileo, Selex Communications and Elettronica.

The ISCMS concept has been developed over an 18-month period by Eurofighter in consultation with the air force. The latter has agreed to outsourcing work that would previously have been carried out within the service. The cost of sustaining a complete “in-house” capability has led the air force to embrace industry involvement.

While the ISCMS is similar to the RAF approach, the actual areas covered differ somewhat, reflecting national requirements. Germany and Spain may now well follow suit, though again with tailored packages.

While a common four-partner logistics and support scheme would have offered cost savings, the partner air forces have always favored pursuing national approaches. Crafting a single system would likely have taken an inordinate amount of time to negotiate.

Photo: Arpingstone via Wikipedia