The new Italian ASW aircraft: urgent? Actually, not at all

The 2025–2027 Multi-Year Defense Planning Document (Documento Programmatico Pluriennale, DPP) released by the Italian Ministry of Defense confirms the procurement of six new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), though the specific model has not yet been selected.

The financial plan indicates that funding will begin in 2027 with an initial allocation of €30 million, suggesting that a decision on the platform is not expected in the short term.

In the meantime, Italy remains without a dedicated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability since the Breguet Atlantic was finally retired in 2017. Maritime surveillance duties are currently carried out by the P-72A (ATR-72) aircraft, which serve as a temporary gap-filler but lack ASW systems.

From both an industrial and operational standpoint, the main contenders remain the Boeing P-8A Poseidon and the Kawasaki P-1. The latter had often been considered the frontrunner, partly thanks to the potential integration of Italian-made avionics (Leonardo and ELT Group), yet the DPP does not clarify the issue.

Other options mentioned in the debate include the A321 MPA (still in development), Bombardier/Global-based export-oriented proposals, and — more marginally — an ASW variant of the C-27J, which however would lack the range and mission comfort typical of dedicated MPA platforms.