Italy orders Israeli companies removed from Rome airport counter-drone project

Italy's Council of State has ordered the airport operator Aeroporti di Roma to replace an Israeli consortium with Italian company ELT (Elettronica S.p.A.) in charge of counter-drone protection at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

The ruling removes Israeli defense firms Altintech and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems from the project. Rafael manufactures Israel's Iron Dome air defense system. ADR has 60 days to finalize a contract with ELT.

The decision reverses a May 2024 ruling by the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio that had previously awarded the contract to the Israeli consortium. The court has also ordered the case file be sent to the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office to determine whether criminal investigations into the procurement process are warranted.

Technical experts from Italy's Ministry of Defense determined that the radar system installed at the airport constitutes military equipment based on its technical characteristics, its classification under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and its entry in Italy's national military equipment registry. According to the court, the necessary authorizations for importing and operating such military material were not obtained.