'International cooperation in the military procurement sector has always been of crucial importance.'

摘要

ESD: Can you briefly elaborate on the role, organisation and duties of the SGD/ DNA? Are whether there other organisations involved in defence procurement in Italy? Lt.Gen. Falsaperna: The Secretariat General of Defence and National Armaments Directorate is the Technical-Administrative Branch of the Italian Ministry of Defence. It is a complex organisation, whose duties within the Ministry of Defence involve the management and control of national and international activities in the fields of industrial policy and defence materiel cooperation - including those related to the modernisation and renewal of military systems, vehicles and equipment - as well as the development of policies concerning innovation and technological research. The operational requirements related to equipment and materiel for the armed forces are defined - in line with the policy guidelines expressed by the Minister of Defence - by the Chief of Defence (CHOD), who acknowledges, examines and harmonises the requests coming from the Armed Forces General Staff in order to meet the global needs of the military sector. Accordingly, he sets priorities and identifies the necessary financial resources, planning the allocation of funds after approval by the Minister. At this point, it is up to the National Armaments Director to define the best acquisition strategy and submit it to the Minister for approval, in agreement with the CHOD. The procedure is then implemented by the "operational body" of the Technical-Administrative Branch, which includes the Technical Directorates of Land Armaments, Naval Armaments, Air Armaments and Airworthiness, the Directorate of Information Technology, Telematics and Advanced Technologies, and the Directorate of Works and State Property. The armed forces also contribute to defence procurement, within the limited scope of exercise and training requirements. In this context, the defence industry enjoys an important role. This role has historically held high strategic value as one of the most important sectors in the national economic system, in terms of capacity and sovereignty of the military sector, projection on international markets, protection of skilled employment, modernisation of national technological assets and, last but not least, strategic enhancement of the country's international role.