Rome is expected to announce an agreement soon to purchase additional Eurofighter fighter jets for its air force, a senior Leonardo executive said.

The move follows a move by Germany, which yesterday announced the purchase of 20 more aircraft amid a backdrop where NATO members are increasing defense spending after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"I am confident that Italy will come soon with a similar statement," Leonardo's Joint General Manager Lorenzo Mariani told Reuters at the Ila airshow just outside Berlin.

He gave no further details on the number of jets that will be purchased or the timing of the deal.

Speaking at the opening of the Ila airshow yesterday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was strongly committed to maintaining and expanding weapons production capacity.

Italy's agreement to buy more jets will require the allocation of new funds on top of the country's approved military budget and will need formal parliamentary authorization.

The Janes defense news agency reported in May that Rome is seeking 24 more jets to add to the 94 in service as the air force prepares to retire older aircraft.

The twin-engine supersonic Eurofighter Typhoon jets are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain through Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.

(Translated by Luca Fratangelo, editing Claudia Cristoferi)