Italy will receive it's first two Reaper UAV's next month……

The Italian Air Force will be receiving its first two of  six Reapers (improved Predators) and support equipment,  in July after a year slip in the delivery schedule….

The Italian’s plan to have the units working in Afghanistan by the end of the year…..

The unmanned drones are unarmed….

The first two of six unarmed MQ-9 Reaper UAVs that Italy has sought to order will be delivered in July, an Italian Air Force source said June 9

A U.S. source who has knowledge of the deal added that the UAVs, plus ground stations and support equipment, could be flown by cargo aircraft directly from California to the Reapers’ base in Puglia in southern Italy.

Two more Reapers will be delivered by the end of 2010, the Italian Air Force source said. The delivery schedule has slipped. Italian officials previously said they aimed to take delivery of the first Reapers by the end of 2009.

In addition to an order for four Reapers, Italy said last October it would seek to order an extra two to beef up its UAV surveillance capability in Afghanistan.