The Italian side has already decided to transfer the battery of the SAMP / T anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine, the Italian defense portal RID reports.
“The green light was given 2-3 days ago at the behest of Prime Minister George Maloney himself. Two weeks ago, the problem was on the high seas due to the reluctance of the defense and the military, given that the Italian army has only 5 SAMP / T batteries in service and one of them is currently stationed in Kuwait … However, strong pressure from Washington – we are talking about a phone call from Biden Maloney – decisively changed the picture, and Italy said yes, the newspaper writes.
The scheme by which the battery is to be transferred is complex and the details are currently classified. It is likely that the battery will consist of parts of the Italian system and parts of the French one, and the SAMP / T anti-aircraft missile system itself is the result of Italian-French cooperation.
The report says that the SAMP / T based on the ASTER 30 Block 1 interceptor is an effective system, primarily against cruise and anti-radar missiles, large drones, and also has some anti-missile capabilities (against short-range missiles).
“For our industry, the supply of SAMP / T to Ukraine is good news, especially in terms of exports: now we can safely say that the system has been tested in combat conditions,” the publication notes.
As reported, in mid-December 2022, the French edition of Challenges reported that France and Italy accepted Ukraine’s application for the supply of Mamba SAMP / T air defense systems.
Earlier, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in an interview with Le Monde on December 9 that Ukraine is asking for SAMP/T and the Franco-Italian Mamba system.
“The French side reacted positively to our request, but negotiations with the Italian side have not been completed yet,” he said.
In early November, Western media reported, citing an Italian government official, that as part of a new military aid package, Rome could send Ukraine various air defense systems, including Franco-Italian SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile systems. systems, Italian Aspide medium-range anti-aircraft missiles and man-portable air defense systems.
We previously wrote that Ukraine will receive another NASAMS air defense system from Canada — Canadian Defense Minister and Armed Forces of Ukraine will begin training in Patriot air defense systems at the end of January — Pentagon.