Italy Removes Israeli Companies from Rome Airport Counter-Drone Project

ROME: Italy’s top administrative court has ordered the removal of Israeli companies from the counter-drone security project at Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport, directing that the contract be awarded to an Italian firm in a ruling seen as a significant development in the country’s defence procurement process.

According to Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, the court instructed Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), the operator of Fiumicino Airport, to sign a new contract within 60 days with Italian electronic warfare company Elettronica S.p.A. The decision effectively excludes Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and its project partner from the programme.

The report said the court ruled that the radar system selected for the airport qualified as military-grade equipment and lacked the necessary authorisations required under Italian law. On that basis, it annulled the previously awarded contract.

The court also ordered that the case file be forwarded to the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether any criminal irregularities may have occurred during the procurement process.

Aeroporti di Roma said it would fully comply with the court’s ruling while ensuring that airport security operations and counter-drone protection measures continue without interruption.