Italian investigators probe how thousands of vital avionics vanished from a Brindisi air force depot, amid suspicions of embezzlement and possible resale abroad.
Italian prosecutors are investigating the disappearance of nearly 2,500 aeroplane components for military aircraft worth an estimated €17 million from Air Force warehouses in Brindisi.
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The missing parts include electronic modules and systems for Panavia Tornado and AMX fighter-bombers and Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, according to Italian media reports.
Rome prosecutors and the Military Public Prosecutor's Office have placed around a dozen people on a register of suspects for alleged embezzlement, including senior Air Force logistics managers, generals, and executives from the external company contracted to maintain the materials at the Brindisi depot.
The parts are not ordinary spare components but critical avionics systems required for safe operation of military aircraft. Usually, they can be traced through military registers, inventory codes and NATO protocols.
Investigators are now examining how components subject to strict tracking procedures could disappear from official records before being physically removed from warehouses.
A key element of the investigation is the "out-of-use" certification issued for certain parts after they disappeared from warehouses. If parts that were still functional were only declared worn after the fact, it would suggest an organised attempt to eliminate their official traceability, investigators said.
Flew off to Brazil?
One unverified line of inquiry suggests the parts may have been diverted to South America, particularly Brazil, where some of these aircraft types are operational, Repubblica reported.
The AMX was developed through Italian-Brazilian cooperation and is used by the Brazilian Air Force.
The investigation is examining whether certified parts were reintroduced into international demand circuits, where original spares for ageing aircraft models are increasingly difficult to obtain due to discontinued production lines.
Legitimate secondary markets for military aircraft parts exist, including surplus and exchange markets between allied countries. However, these are regulated by strict rules to prevent critical components from entering unauthorised parallel circuits.
Aircraft cannibalisation to keep other platforms operational is also legitimate if handled within protocol limits, but requires timely documentation, technical supervision and clear responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the Italian judiciary has ordered a technical consultancy to determine the actual state of wear of the parts and to determine whether they were intended for scrapping or remained fully usable.
The Italian Air Force said it has appointed an internal technical investigation commission. The authorities have not revealed further details as the investigation remains ongoing.