Undersecretary Tofalo on an institutional visit to the USA

(To Staff)
29/01/19

Undersecretary of Defense Angelo Tofalo has been an important mission in the United States of America where the main defense and security dossiers, shared technological projects, cyber and intelligence were discussed at the summit meetings.

At the Pentagon, the undersecretary was received by his colleague Ellen Lord, US Undersecretary of Defense. Important issues of an industrial nature and cooperation in the Defense sector were at the center of the bilateral dialogue.

"A profitable meeting"said Tofalo, "In which I was able to deepen even the cyber themes. The security of the cybernetic domain represents for us, as for our allies, the challenge of the future. With this in mind, we have evaluated possible specific collaborations in the sector ".

"The Lord asked me in particular about the F35 program. I expected", says Undersecretary Tofalo che "With the utmost sincerity that binds two friendly peoples and with absolute firmness" he expressed the multiple perplexities that the government has about the program.

Tofalo has therefore clearly said that "There is a specific, in-depth and careful study on the F35 dossier, aimed at verifying the cost / benefit ratio as well. In 20 years we have already spent several billion. Once the study is completed, Minister Trenta will submit it to President Conte for the appropriate evaluations and consequent decisions. "

And at the same time he also asked his US counterpart for political support in directing other countries to make their aircraft in Italy at the FACO in Cameri (Final Assembly and Check-out, the plant in the Novara area where the fighters are assembled, ed), which represents a strategic asset of our Air Force, in order to safeguard the occupational capacities of the plant.

Particular attention to training, recruitment and future global cyber guidelines was dedicated during the meeting with General Edwin Wilson, head of the US Cyber ​​Defense sector. "We understood each other immediately and promised to meet again soon to start with new and important collaborations between Italy and the USA", says Undersecretary Tofalo.

The Pentagon visit ended at the Memorial dedicated to the victims of the September 11: "A wound to democracy that can never be healed", recalled the Undersecretary, paying homage to the women and men who lost their lives in the attack.

On the same day Tofalo then met General Robert Ashley at the headquarters of the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency), who expressed words of thanks for the contribution and role that Italy plays with its military in multiple and difficult theaters operating in the world.

For Undersecretary Tofalo the meeting took place in "a climate of particular friendship and openness" and allowed to deal with "important topics of mutual interest concerning: the cybernetic protection of military infrastructures, procedures and best practices for the formation of personnel and increase the culture of information security and the protection of technological assets and knowledge ". Finally, he concludes, "We have agreed to increase the already excellent collaboration in the sector through subsequent meetings between experts."

In the Italian Embassy in Washington, Undersecretary Tofalo then expressed his appreciation to the military and civilian personnel who "work every day, far away from home, work by keeping our Tricolor up". "Here in Washington - he concluded - we have a team of well-organized people, military and diplomatic, very competent and it is with them that I met our major companies to talk about the future and projects. "

The visit to the United States was an opportunity for Undersecretary Tofalo to also get to know the main Italian industrial excellence. "It is always a great satisfaction to discover the technology made in Italy", underlined the undersecretary who spoke of "splendid US reality in which the heart and the Italian commitment throbs".

"Their results are the result of very high engineering capabilities and contribute to the economic soundness of the Country System" he added.

In Philadelphia, Tofalo visited the Leonardo plants where around 600 employees are employed, destined to increase during the 2019. Here, for over 30 years, are produced those that are considered among the best helicopters in the world. In the State of Pennsylvania are produced the AW119, the only helicopters in the world, single-engine, certified for the IFR flight (Instrument Flight Rules). Also in this important aeronautical reality, where also qualified Italian engineers work, the AW609 convertiplane is produced. Extremely complex aircraft and keeper of innovative technologies. In little more than ten years of the industrial establishment in Philadelphia have been delivered to several customers, both state and non, over 570 helicopters of different models.

"I came back from the USA, tired but satisfied for having collected valuable information to take home to then take, with the Government, the best decisions for our country", Tofalo's words on his return to Italy, "These were important days in which close strategic ties were established with old and above all new protagonists of American politics and administration. All the main defense and security files were addressed with a particular focus on the security of the cybernetic domain, which represents for us as well as for our allies the challenge of the future. "