The Undersecretary of State for Defense, Angelo Tofalo, participated in the ministerial meeting on the Eurofighter program with the representatives of Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain The Undersecretary of State for Defense, Angelo Tofalo,he participated in the ministerial meeting onEurofighter programwhich was held on Friday 14 December in Florence, at the Institute of Military Aeronautical Sciences (ISMA), with representatives from Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. Sitting at the table with Undersecretary Tofalo – who chaired the meeting – were the German Undersecretary of Defense Benedikt Zimmer, the Spanish Undersecretary Ángel Olivares Ramires, and the British Chief of Staff of the Defense, General Aum Keith Bethell, appointed by the British Undersecretary.
“I feel a strong commitment and I am proud to represent Italy with the partner countries in the Eurofighter program, which has been a very important factor for the major European aerospace industries. The employment level derived from it is estimated at over 100,000 units”, said Deputy Secretary Tofalo.“The meeting allowed us to highlight and reiterate, in a climate of shared participation, the highlights and the path to follow in order to maintain a common line of action.”. The management of the Eurofighter program, initiated under the General Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1986, is entrusted to a governmental agency namedNETMA (NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency)which, for all four client countries, represents the only interface authorized to highlight their needs to the manufacturers.
Brigadier General Vincenzo Nuzzo, Commander of the ISMA, wanted to emphasize that “The Eurofighter ministerial meeting is just the latest of numerous international engagements that have taken place at the Institute, a tangible sign of the diligence and capabilities of the staff who are constantly called upon to support NATO and European-related events“.
The Institute of Military Aeronautics Sciences, which is subordinate to the Command of the 3rd Air Region, is the venue for numerous training activities, including the Normal Master Course, the Staff Course for Captains of Special Roles, and other training sessions that include preparatory activities for Operations Outside National Borders with theoretical lectures and practical exercises. Professional courses and in-depth training for Officers in the rank of Major/Colonel are also provided; in addition to these, seminars for Generals of Brigade have also been added; they serve as a clear opportunity for reflection, during which to exchange experiences and knowledge, as well as to enhance the tools of analysis and stimulate the strategic thinking of future leaders of the Armed Forces.
