Italy has sold military equipment to Libya: explosives, rockets and helicopters for a total value of tens of millions of Euros over the last two years, according to Corriere della Sera.
An Interior Ministry official report is quoting listing agreements and negotiations between arms Italian companies, such as giant Finmecanica and Libya.
Missile manufacturer MBDA Italy signed in May 2009 an agreement of 2.5 million Euros to supply Libya “material for missiles, torpedoes, and bombs” according to this document.
Augusta Westland signed in October 2010 contracts for 70 million Euros for the supply of ten helicopters, while in the same year, Selex Sistemi Integrati Finmecanica group has signed an agreement worth 13 million Euros to supply Libya other military electronic devices for gun targeting.
Italy and Libya have signed a treaty in 2008, which has considerably strengthened the economic ties between the two countries, Italy being Libya’s main trading partner.
According to the same report quoted by Corriere della Sera, Oto Melara company began talks Libya’s officials in November 2010 for “arms with a calibre bigger than 12.7 millimeters, and material, parts and training.”
This year, Intermarin S.p.A. began negotiations with Libya for 600 Million Euros contracts. Other Italian companies, such as Augusta-Westland, Selex Sistemi Integrati, and Oto Melara were also in talks for contracts worth 150 million Euros.