Italy bars Israeli firms from Rome Fiumicino airport counter‑drone system

Italy’s Council of State ordered Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) to replace the Israeli consortium that was operating the counter‑drone protection system at Rome Fiumicino Airport with the Italian electronic‑warfare company ELT (Elettronica S.p.A.). The Israeli firms Altintech and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the maker of the Iron Dome system, were removed from the project.

The court classified the radar installed at the airport as military equipment under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, finding that the required import authorisations were not in place. The ruling overturns a May 2024 decision by the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio that had upheld the contract to the Israeli consortium. ADR has 60 days to finalize a new contract with ELT, and the case file has been sent to the Rome public prosecutor for possible criminal investigation. ADR says the system is dual‑use and security operations will continue uninterrupted.