Italy has announced plans to purchase an additional 25 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, which includes 15 F-35As and 10 F-35Bs, as part of a €7 billion ($7.5 billion) investment to boost its fleet to 115 aircraft. This decision is part of Italy's Multi-Year Programmatic Document for Defense (2024-2026), which was presented to Parliament for approval. The F-35A will primarily serve the Italian Air Force, while the F-35B will be allocated to both the Air Force and Navy, allowing operations from carriers like the new INS Trieste. Additionally, Italy has earmarked €506 million for the development of a sixth-generation fighter jet in collaboration with the UK and Japan. The defense budget for 2024 has risen by 16.8% to €9.3 billion, reflecting Italy's commitment to enhancing its geopolitical position through improved aerial capabilities. This move follows a history of reduced orders, initially planned at 131 aircraft in 2009, later revised to 90, indicating a strategic shift in Italy's defense procurement.