From the possible use of the European Safe funds to the future of the Gcap program and the Michelangelo Dome project, to the path of consolidating the European space industry through the Bromo alliance.
These are some of the topics addressed by the new CEO of Leonardo, Lorenzo Mariani, speaking at the Confindustria “Connext Filiere” conference dedicated to aerospace, defense, and security. The manager also drew attention to the protection of national strategic assets, warning of the risk of handing over Italian industrial expertise to foreign investors.
All the details.
THE ISSUE OF DEFENSE SPENDING
According to Mariani, who took over the leadership of the former Finmeccanica group last month, the Italian Government “has embarked on a virtuous path” of gradual increase in defense spending, but “if we interrupt this spending path” for 3-4 years, with France and Germany investing at the current sustained rates, “we will come out of this decade completely subject to the German and French industry.”
Going from 1.5% of GDP in defense spending to 3.5% of GDP in just a few years – explained the Leonardo CEO at the Confindustria conference – “would have excluded most Italian industries,” which would not have been able to keep up with the pace of supplies, “but there must be no illusions” that we must continue on “this spending path.”
Mariani’s statements come amid the ongoing debate within the Italian Government on the adoption of the European Safe funds and the increase in defense spending in upcoming budget laws.
Our country requested in recent months to be admitted to loans totaling 14.9 billion euros from the EU under the Security Action for Europe (Safe) program to finance defense and security expenses. The mechanism provides that the EU raises funds on capital markets and makes them available to member states in the form of long-term loans, based on their investment plans for the European defense industry.
According to press sources, Rome is considering requesting only about 5 billion of the initially planned 15 billion through Safe, with possible repercussions on projects already agreed upon between the defense industry and the Ministry of Defense.
SAFE OR NOT, THE FUTURE OF THE PROGRAMS
On this topic, the Leonardo CEO explained that the company’s industrial planning is based on programs already financed through the ordinary Defense budget.
“We always calibrate ourselves on what the State’s Defense budget is, and we know that we have certain projects already underway and covered by ordinary funds,” he stated.
According to Mariani, possible access to Safe funds could allow accelerating some already planned initiatives. “If Safe is something more, I am sure there will be programs that can even be anticipated, otherwise we continue on the line of the programs already launched.”
GCAP IS NOT AT RISK
Among the strategic programs mentioned by the manager is the Gcap (Global Combat Air Programme), a program for a sixth-generation air combat system that must be operational by 2035, developed by our country together with the United Kingdom and Japan.
Mariani ruled out that any decisions on Safe funds could jeopardize the program.
“I don’t believe that major programs like Gcap are at risk because of the Safe funds,” assured the Leonardo CEO.
MICHELANGELO DOME REMAINS CONFIRMED
On the front of new defense technologies, Leonardo’s CEO confirmed the continuation of the Michelangelo Dome project.
“The entire Michelangelo Dome plan is confirmed,” he said on the sidelines of the event organized by Confindustria.
The program came under the spotlight at the beginning of April, coinciding with the renewal of the board of directors of the company in Piazza Monte Grappa. According to press rumors, the discussions were based on alleged tensions between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and then CEO Roberto Cingolani, as well as divergences on the group’s industrial strategy. Among the topics mentioned was precisely Michelangelo Dome, the interconnected multi-domain system based on artificial intelligence presented by Leonardo as one of the pillars of its technological evolution. According to reconstructions circulated in recent months, the project also raised questions and sensitivities at the international level, particularly in relations with the United States.
Mariani’s statements thus confirm the continuity of the program and its industrial roadmap within the group’s activities.
THE APPEAL TO DEFEND ITALIAN STRATEGIC ASSETS
Then, during his speech at “Connext Filiere,” Mariani also launched a message on the need to preserve the national industrial heritage in the defense sector.
The manager drew attention to the sale of Italian defense companies to international investment funds since there is a risk of selling expertise and assets that may not be recoverable later.
“Be careful when talking about mergers – emphasized the Leonardo CEO – We have witnessed the entry of foreign funds into the capital: be careful about selling our future for something that, maybe it’s not exactly a plate of lentils, but that we will not be able to recover in the future.”
BROMO, THE NEED FOR A EUROPEAN SATELLITE CHAMPION
Finally, the head of the Italian aerospace and defense giant returned to the Bromo project, the industrial alliance between Leonardo, Airbus, and Thales in the satellite sector aimed at strengthening European competitiveness in space.
Last October 23, the three companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the goal of unifying their respective space activities into a new company, code-named Project Bromo. The three companies claim that the operation would create a stronger European player, capable of competing with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Chinese rivals.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Leonardo CEO Mariani stated that the European green light for the Bromo space project should arrive “by the second half of 2027.”
Today at the Confindustria conference, Mariani recalled that Leonardo has operated for over twenty years in the Space Alliance with Thales through a joint venture that it considers an industrial and commercial success.
“Leonardo, in space, has for over twenty years implemented the need to have a joint venture with Thales, in the Space Alliance. This is a joint venture we are extremely happy with and that has also done very well in the market.” The goal now is to expand this alliance through the entry of Airbus.
“We want to expand it. Expand it with the Bromo project to make it even more European with the entry of a third partner, Airbus, creating a true European champion that can compete at the continental and global level,” explained Leonardo’s CEO.
Also according to the British financial daily, Leonardo, Airbus, and Thales are close to submitting the formal request to the European Commission for the satellite alliance. But not everyone is rooting for this industrial consolidation project: the German satellite manufacturer Ohb is ready to consider legal action in case of approval of the project by the EU Antitrust.
