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Document shows that Italy is planning to invest 2.4 billion Euros in frigates.

A document seen by revealed that the Italian government had asked for approval of a 2,4 billion-euro investment (US$2,82 billion) over 15 years to maintain and modernise its frigate fleet.

Italy is preparing to?increase defense?spending in order to meet higher NATO targets. This comes after allies agreed to the U.S. request to increase their annual defence budgets up to 5%.

Document stated that the programme is to be implemented until 2039 and aims at "maintaining operational conditions, logistical support, as well as the'mid-life upgrading' of FREMM type frigate naval units.

It stressed the need for Italy to continue to operate vessels that are capable of monitoring maritime areas of national interest.

FREMM is a multi-purpose warship designed jointly by Italy's Fincantieri, and France's Naval Group. The shipbuilding joint venture along with Leonardo won a contract worth 1.5 billion euros last year to build two frigates in Rome.

The document stated that the industry's cooperation is expected to continue in accordance with existing arrangements including through OCCAR, the European procurement agency.

Both the Italian defence and industry ministries will fund this new investment. The program is described as being "vital", and it will deliver "clear benefits" in one of the defence sectors with highest strategic value.

According to the website of the lower house, the defence committees in the parliament must approve the request before January 12. The lower house website states that drones, subs and remotely-piloted aircraft are included in other spending plans.

The opposition parties criticised the new defense spending plans of the 'government', which are worth over 3 billion euros. They claimed that the government was not investing enough in the'social services'.

This is a real slap on the faces of Italian families, I think. A truly unpalatable gift", Nicola Fratoianni said, a member of the Green-Left Alliance. $1 = 0.8498 euro (Reporting and editing by Giulia Segriti, Ros Russell).

(source: Reuters)