Italy’s government has sent Parliament a Defence Ministry decree that raises the F-35 programme cost by about €7.3 billion, from €13.5 billion authorised in 2009 to €20.84 billion. The scheme before the Chamber and Senate defence committees covers both aircraft purchases and strengthening the Cameri (Novara) final assembly line.

Against an original requirement of 131 jets, the update plans 75 F-35A (CTOL) for the Air Force and 40 F-35B (STOVL) split evenly between the Air Force and Navy — 115 aircraft in total. The programme runs 2027–2039; 2027 is budgeted at €175 million, 2028 at €230 million, with most of the extra outlay concentrated in 2029–2034.

The cost rise is officially blamed on revised security requirements, technological upgrades to the weapon system, inflation and euro–dollar swings. Centre-left opposition parties have demanded that Defence Minister Guido Crosetto appear in Parliament and secured a delay of the committee vote.

PD senator Alessandro Alfieri announced the postponement in the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee and said the minister must discuss the multi-year defence planning document before advancing such sums. Left-wing groups criticise “blank cheques” for the arms industry amid cuts or underfunding in health and education.

Committees have until 13 December to issue their opinion. If the government rejects the committees’ conditions or gets a negative opinion, the scheme returns with counter-arguments; only an absolute-majority negative opinion tied to inconsistency with the DPP can block adoption.

The decree’s figures (€20.84bn through 2039) do not fully match those in the 2025–2027 DPP, where F-35 financing stretches to 2046 — a discrepancy the opposition is already using in the debate.

Source consulted: Governo accelera su nuovi caccia F-35 e chiede ok al Parlamento — la Repubblica (confirmation: Il Fatto Quotidiano)