Page:NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 17; ITALY; SCIENCE CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080002-5.pdf/17

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080002-5

containers, designed for both storage and transport of bulk liquid POL products, submersible and floating oil hoses, and fueling buoys for use in marine POL terminal systems. Italian work in direct energy conversion systems is limited, although some effort is underway on magnetohydrodynamics, especially closed-cycle systems.

The Italians have in the past or are now conducting research and development in all aspects of underwater ordnance, including antisubmarine warfare (ASW) mortars, torpedoes, and mines. Italy has long been a pioneer in these areas of development. The only known research and development being conducted in the field of torpedoes is directed toward a wire-guided torpedo carrier for the U.S.-supplied Mk 44 torpedo. Italy has had under development for many years an ASW mine designated T.A.R. A gun mount program has been established, and a number of private firms are participating in the development of modern dual-purpose, rapid-fire mounts. Naval fire control systems also are under development.

2. Biological and chemical warfare (C)

The Italians have a small biological and chemical warfare (BW/CW) research and development program directed essentially toward defensive aspects. Primary responsibility for initiating and coordinating BW and CW research and development efforts within the Italian Armed Forces rests with the Inspector General of Atomic, Biological, and Chemical (ABC) Defense. The Chief, Chemistry and Physics Technical Service, subordinate to the ABC Inspectorate, directs and administers the BW and CW research, testing, and equipment developmental activities of the Army Technical Center for Chemistry, Physics, and Biology (ATC), Rome. There are four laboratories at ATCː the chemistry and biology laboratories, both of which develop detection, rapid screening, and alarm techniques; a physics laboratory to support the first two; and a technological laboratory to develop end items.

Scientists engaged in BW- and CW̠-related fields of research are competent and benefit through an exchange of information on offensive and defensive advances in BW/CW through NATO, the Mutual Weapons Development Data Exchange Agreement with the United States, and FINABEL (France, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, West Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg).

Known BW research is confined to defensive aspects, particularly detection and identification, but medical and health research provides knowledge applicable to all aspects of BW. Work at ATC has included studying the travel of aerosol clouds containing fluorescent particles, meteorological observations in various sections of the country, development of a sampling kit, and investigations of the fluorescent antibody staining technique for its potential role in BW agent detection. A contract has been awarded for research in methods of mass vaccination by aerosol.

Various civilian institutes and laboratories not currently connected directly with BW offer facilities that could be applied to BW programs if funding and directives were provided. For example, the Higher Institute of health, Rome, has responsibilities for diagnostic work, and research is conducted on leptospirosis, Q-fever, arboviruses (presently the Bhanja virus is under study), air sampling techniques related to pollution, and on the epidemiology and diagnosis of microbial infections. Human and animal brucellosis are studied at the Institute of Hygiene of the University of Florence, Florence, and at the Veterinary Clinic of the University of Pisa, Pisa, respectively.

Scientists at the Serumtherapy and Vaccinogen Institute, Siena, prepared a detailed report of methods adopted for the titration of polyvalent snake venom antisera. Collected data were used to determine the toxicity of each venom and the neutralizing dose for the corresponding antisera. Although the natural poisons research is medically oriented, the data resulting from such work could lead to new sophisticated CW lethal and incapacitating agents. Research also is being conducted on neuromuscular blocking agents; quaternary ammonium salts were found to display cholinolytic properties similar to the standard U.S. incapacitating agent BZ. No information is available to indicate that Italy is engaged in studying new CW agents. Some basic research has been conducted, however, on known lethal agents, including the G- and V-type nerve agents for defensive purposes. This work is probably continuing. Italy's research on natural poisons is devoted primarily to plant alkaloids and snake venoms. Relatively little interest is shown in bacterial toxins.

A haversack kit has been devised for aidmen (NCO's) and battalion medical teams. It contains, among other first aid items, atropine automatic injectors and vials of 2-pyridine aldoxime methiodide (PAM) to combat nerve agent poisoning and amyl nitrite ampoules and aminophenol for blood agent antidotes. The Italians have developed a refillable automatic atropine self-injector for self-aid against

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080002-5