The Italian Military: Bigger than the British but at half the cost

Comments · 3.2K

• MI

  @michaelshurkin613 · 2 years ago · pinned

  PS. If any of you watchers happen to work for governments or Think Tanks: I do these for fun in my spare time. It's a hobby. I can do far more substantive work like I used to do at the RAND Corporation with modest financial backing. If any of you think that might be of use...

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• R1

  @R1C-70 · 2 years ago (edited)

  There's also a factor often disregarded, Italy defense industry is one of the most advanced worldwide, which makes Italian armed forces able to take advantage of many "home made" solutions.

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• TS

  @Tsagan · 2 years ago

  As a French citizen I really like our collaborations with Italy, the FREMM frigates and the SAMP/T are great example of what we can do together.

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• RT

  @rtyu4783 · 2 years ago

  The best defense strategy is to remain unpercieved. The italian military is nowhere mentioned.

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• JA

  @jackwalker9492 · 1 year ago

  I had the privilege of working with the Italians.  First, Cold War with the Alpinis and second, in Iraq, multiple fights in Nasiriha (google CAP Ricardo Cappelli).   Probably got that spelling wrong.  Great soldiers and I hope some day I can return to their country and thank them in person.   Until then, my Salute with my utmost respect.

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• LO

  @los789 · 2 years ago

  Some of the best troops I ever worked with were the Folgore. Great guys!

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• OL

  @oldsarj · 2 years ago

  Italy, as a mountainous peninsula, has a different defense requirement from the rest of Europe.  In order to invade Italy you have to either cross the Alps (good luck with that!) or you have to invade by sea.  Given the superb quality of the Italian Navy and the Alpini mountain troops, they can get by with less.  Italy has no ambitions to project power.

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• SI

  @Siwashable · 1 year ago

  Fincantieri is a major global Italian shipbuilder.  They build all sorts of ships, including state-of-the-art naval ships.. Italy is considered one of the best shipbuilders on the planet.  This goes back many centuries.

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• SI

  @SirPano85 · 1 year ago

  I was in the base defense service of Comsubin so I saw what an Incursore can do and it's crazy, they are at world's top tier level.

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• LU

  @luigifranceschi2350 · 2 years ago

  Italy has the advantage not to need nuclear attack submarines. Because any navy that wants to enter the Mediterranean Sea has to pass from either Suez, Gibraltar strait or Dardanelles strait. So they can just place there a slow but extremely silent AIP sub, that costs just a fraction of a nuclear attack submarine, and the enemy’s  navy will have to pass from there. And it can wait there, sitting at the bottom without making any noise, for weeks without snorkeling. So no need to have submarines running up and down the oceans.

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• FA

  @FamaDominus · 1 year ago

  The Italian military doesn’t involve itself in the public eye that’s why it’s not talked about.

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• IN

  @intersezioni · 2 years ago (edited)

  It must be remembered that Italians have very important companies that produce for their defense, such as Leonardo, Agusta Westland, Fincantieri, Oto Melara etc... they produce for themselves and for the international market helicopters, aircraft carriers, frigates, weapons (Beretta for example), defense systems etc...

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