Defense News
November 10, 2022

Italy preps new Ukraine arms shipment. Is SAMP/T air defense included?

Italy plans to send air defense weapons to Ukraine, possibly including the SAMP/T system, Italian media reports have suggested….

Rome is gearing up for its sixth dispatch of arms to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February.

Italy has been tightlipped about what it sent so far. However, Stinger surface-to-air missiles, mortars, and Milan or Panzerfaust anti-tank weapons were reportedly planned for previous consignments, as well as Browning heavy machine guns, MG-type light machine guns and systems for countering improvised explosive devices. Italy also reportedly sent multiple-launch rocket systems, PzH 2000 howitzers and vehicles over the course of the year.

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“Italy classified the arms it sends to Ukraine, but rumors suggest the next package will likely include air defense and missile defense…,” Alessandro Marrone, who heads the defense program at the Rome-based think tank IAI, told Defense News.

Entering service with the Italian Army in 2013, SAMP/T is a truck-based tactical anti-missile system designed to counter cruise missiles, manned and unmanned aircraft, and tactical ballistic missiles.

In 2016, Italy sent a battery to Turkey as part of a NATO operation….[Against Syria.]

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…Meloni has repeatedly committed to backing Kyiv and claimed the flow of arms will continue uninterrupted.

However, she does face a large number of voters who are against supplying weapons. Last weekend, at least 40,000 protestors took to the streets of Rome to call for peace in Ukraine, with many opposing arms shipments and carrying banners condemning NATO.