Italy Grapples With Internal, External Transformation

摘要

Italy is moving toward a defense transformation that involves nonmilitary governmental organizations as well as traditional forces. Recognizing that many defense and homeland security activities are cross-functional, the Mediterranean nation is building a network-centric architecture that will connect all of its military elements along with civil security equivalents.rnThe Italian military is encountering its own challenges as it moves from information silos to network centrici-ty. Its armed forces are undergoing a transformation similar to that of other Western militaries in the transition from a post-Cold-War structure to one better suited for the Global War on Terrorism. Italy is moving from reliance on heavy weapons to a focus on information superiority.rnLt. Gen. Pietro Finocchio, ITAF, is the general director of Italy's General Directorate for Information Technolo-rngy and High Technology, known by its Italian acronym TELEDIFE. His organization procures information technology systems, including air defense, navigation, Earth observation and communications -"from mobile telephones to satellites," he explains.