As a (unwilling, mostly) tax-payer, I find this discussion very interesting.
The public opinion in Italy is quite outraged at the acquisition price of the new F-35, and also the way the whole deal has been handled.
Piaggio is developing a drone based on the P180 Avanti, the HammerHead.
Carrying capability isn't much (500 kg), hopefully it will be increased.
But it's also a TP, not a jet.