罗马——意大利正在与MBDA公司合作，计划将该公司生产的武器系统安装在土耳其Baykar公司和意大利Leonardo公司联合研发的新款Astore Levante无人机上。意大利空军负责人表示，意大利空军计划采购6架这种无人机。
ROME — Italy is holding tests with MBDA to mount the European firm’s armaments on the new Astore Levante drone being built by Turkey’s Baykar and Italy’s Leonardo the head of the Italian air force has said. The Italian air force is due to acquire six of the drones, which are derived from Baykar’s TB-3 and are being assembled in Italy by LBA Systems, a joint venture between Baykar and Leonardo.
该无人机基于Baykar公司的TB-3型号开发，由Baykar公司与Leonardo公司共同成立的LBA Systems公司在意大利进行组装。Astore Levante无人机将配备Leonardo公司生产的传感器；在7月的范堡罗航展上，它与土耳其的武器系统一同展出，其中包括Roketsan公司生产的MAM系列制导炸弹以及Baykar公司生产的KEMANKES-1迷你巡航导弹。
The Astore Levante is due to carry Leonardo sensors, but at its unveiling at the Farnborough air show in July it was presented alongside Turkish armaments, including Roketsan’s MAM family of guided bombs and Baykar’s KEMANKES-1 mini cruise missile.
意大利空军司令安东尼奥·康塞瓦将军在罗马表示，他们并未排除与其他武器供应商合作的可能性：“目前我们尚未做出最终选择；虽然土耳其是首选供应商，但我们也在与MBDA公司及一些意大利本土工业公司进行接触。”康塞瓦确认，这款无人机预计将在2026年底或2027年初获得欧洲相关认证——这是其在欧洲市场销售的必要条件。
Speaking in Rome on Monday, Italian air force chief Gen. Antonio Conserva said he was not ruling out other suppliers of armaments. “At the moment we have not made choices, the natural armament is Turkish but we also have activities with MBDA and small Italian industrial groups,” he said. Conserva confirmed the new drone was set to be certified by the end of 2026 or in early 2027. European certification is deemed a prerequisite for selling the drone in Europe.
安装欧洲制造的武器系统将有助于提升该无人机的销售前景。意大利空军最初将订购3套该无人机系统（每套包含2架无人机），康塞瓦表示：“我们会根据实际情况决定是否进一步扩大采购规模。”他还补充说，Astore Levante无人机将取代目前由意大利空军使用的Predator MQ1无人机。除了执行情报收集与监视任务、为部队提供武装支援外，这些无人机还将用于培训无人机飞行员。
Mounting European arms will also boost sales efforts in Europe. The Italian air force will initially order three systems, each containing two drones, but Conserva said, “We will see if we go on to expand the capability.”The Astore Levant will replace the Predator MQ1 flown by the air force, Conserva added. As well as being flown on ISR missions and providing armed support for troops, the drones will also be used for training drone pilots, he said.
在Astore Levante无人机于7月正式亮相之前，意大利海军曾在4月表示，他们正在考虑将TB-3无人机部署在意大利的“卡沃尔”号航空母舰上（该航母同时搭载有F-35B战斗机）。目前，TB-3无人机已投入土耳其的“阿纳多卢”号两栖攻击舰的服役；另一个购买该无人机的国家——印度尼西亚，则计划将其部署在其从意大利购买的“加里波第”号航空母舰上。
Before the launch in July of the Astore Levante, the Italian navy said in April it was eyeing the TB-3 as a carrier-borne drone to fly off its Cavour carrier, which also hosts Italy’s F-35Bs. The TB-3 is already in service on board the Turkish amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. Another TB-3 customer, Indonesia, is expected to base the drone on the Garibaldi, a carrier it has purchased from Italy.
康塞尔瓦周一在意大利空军总部位于罗马的会议上接受记者采访，该会议汇聚了空军和工业界官员，讨论未来战争的形态。
Conserva spoke to reporters on Monday at a conference at the HQ of the Italian air force in Rome which gathered air force and industry officials to discuss the future of warfare.
《国防新闻》询问他关于德国可能加入由意大利、日本和英国共同发起的第六代战斗机GCAP计划的前景，康塞尔瓦表示他持赞成态度。“我们正在谈论一个战略伙伴，”他说。
Asked by Defense News about the prospect of Germany possibly joining the GCAP sixth generation fighter program set up by Italy, Japan and the UK, Conserva said he was in favor. “We are talking about a strategic partner,” he said.
“我们需要找到一个政治和工业上的协议。德国是一个伟大的国家。我们已经在龙卷风战机项目上与他们合作，该战机将于明年退役；同时，欧洲战斗机是我们国家防御和威慑的支柱。无论未来出现什么情况，我都会持赞成态度，”他补充道。
“We would need to find a political and industrial deal. Germany is a great country. We have already collaborated with them on the Tornado which will retire next year, and the Eurofighter which is the backbone of our national defense and deterrence. Whatever emerges I will view favorably,” he added.