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Despite a historically low military spending rate, Italy continues to maintain a surprising capability—ranking tenth in the Global Firepower Index, ahead of France. However, glaring vulnerabilities persist. In March 2023, the Italian Navy faced a critical shortage of drones, relying heavily on American support. Moreover, personnel shortages have left the Italian Navy unable to fully crew its fleet of FREMM frigates—even while the French Navy operates with greater crew availability.
Italy's National Armaments Director highlighted an urgent need for modern tanks, with the aging C1 Ariete models requiring urgent replacement. The recent military assessments revealed that inadequate equipment and personnel could undermine Italy's operational readiness in high-intensity conflicts.