Italian Court Cancels Israeli Rafael's Rome Airport Security Contract Over Radar Classification

Italy's Administrative Supreme Court overturned a previous ruling and annulled the Israeli company Rafael's contract to provide security systems at Rome's Fiumicino International Airport. Rafael had supplied the radar system in partnership with Italian firm Altintech. The court ordered the contract to be transferred to the competing Italian company ELT, giving airport management 60 days to implement the change.

The cancellation was based on a technical report from the Italian Ministry of Defense, which determined that the Israeli radar system was not intended for civilian use but classified as a military device. This conclusion was drawn from factors such as power consumption, operating temperature, frequency bands, and registration in the national weapons database. Consequently, operating the radar required special import permits that had not been legally obtained.

In addition to annulling Rafael's contract, authorities instructed that all related documentation be handed over to Rome's public prosecutor to consider launching a criminal investigation against airport management officials. The airport operator ADR rejected the allegations, stating in legal documents that the equipment is dual-use and safely operates in other European airports and major events. ADR also emphasized it acted transparently under aviation authority supervision and pledged to fully comply with the court ruling while ensuring uninterrupted airport security.