Italy aims to spend about 7.5 billion euros over the next 11 years on 24 new Eurofighter jets, according to a Defense Ministry document viewed by Reuters.

The purchase will lead to the renewal of the Italian air force fleet, given the necessary decommissioning of older Eurofighter and Tornado jets, at a time when NATO members are increasing defense spending in light of growing geopolitical uncertainty.

The twin-engine supersonic Eurofighter Typhoon jets are being built by a German, British, Italian, and Spanish consortium consisting of Airbus, Bae Systems, and Leonardo.

Since the order will be placed by the Italian Air Force, Leonardo will have the role of prime contractor.

A Leonardo spokesman declined to comment on the document.

In June, a senior company executive had told Reuters that the government would announce the plan soon.

"The program is conceived according to a multi-year development plan of presumed start-up in 2024 and assumed total duration of 11 years...the total projected burden of the undertaking referred to in this sheet is estimated at 7,477.3 million euros," the defense document reads.

The document adds that 690 million euros have already been allocated, while the remaining 6.8 billion will be financed in a manner to be determined in the future.

The aircraft will replace 26 planes that Italy is planning to replace starting in 2028, and the contract also includes technical support for the jets and personnel training.

The relevant parliamentary committees are expected to issue an opinion by mid-August on the procurement program-presented last week by the government-that will pave the way for final approval.

Last month Germany also announced the purchase of 20 more Eurofighters. Berlin's air force currently has 138 Eurofighters.

"Emerging technologies available to competitors mean that air supremacy, a key element of aerospace control, cannot be taken for granted and in some situations may not even be attainable," the document says.

The order will allow Italy to transition from the Eurofighter to the new Global Combat Air Program, to which Rome is contributing along with Britain and Japan, for the development of a new advanced fighter that is expected to fly by 2035.

(Translated by Luca Fratangelo, editing Gianluca Semeraro)