Italy hasn't paid 389mn in F35 invoices (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, March 12 - Air Force Chief of Staff General Alberto Rosso told parliament on Tuesday that Italy has not paid "389 million euros in invoices issued in 2018" by Lockheed Martin for F35 fighter jets. Reporting to a joint session of the Lower House and Senate defence committees, Rosso expressed "major concern about uncertainty over the programme" and the "hypothesis of a quantitative reduction" in the number of aircraft Italy will buy.
    The general said the alternative would be "older and more expensive" aircraft. The Air Force chief said that "this aircraft is the future.
    "Any slowdown or fall in the number would be worrying not just for us, but also for the nation's industry, given the economic impact of the programme".