Topic: Italy Pitches Romania Eurofighter Offset

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Italy Pitches Romania Eurofighter Offset
By TOM KINGTON



ROME — Italy has boosted its Eurofighter sales campaign in Romania by suggesting it could buy a local aeronautics firm and turn it into a Typhoon logistics center or even an assembly line.
Alenia Aeronautica, the Italian industrial partner in the four-nation combat jet program, took over marketing duties in Romania a year ago.
In October, Alenia’s parent company Finmeccanica issued a letter of interest about the privatization of local firm Avioane Craiova, which has built jet trainers.
“This interest forms part of a possible offset offer,” said Enzo Casolini, Alenia’s senior vice president for military programs, “although we would need to do a survey of the facilities to look at the possibility of creating logistics activities.”
Romania is mulling the purchase of 24 or 48 fighters, with a decision possible next year. Expected contenders include the Eurofighter Typhoon; the Gripen, built by Saab of Sweden; and the F-16, manufactured by U.S. firm Lockheed Martin.

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