Italy to hand over SAMP/T air defense batteries to Ukraine - media

“The scheme by which the battery is to be transferred is very complex and the details are currently confidential. It is likely that the battery will consist of 'pieces' of the Italian system and 'pieces' of the French system,” the material says.

It is noted that approval for the supply of the SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system, which is capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, was given in the last 2-3 days at the order of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni herself. 

The publication emphasizes that "strong pressure from Washington" helped speed up the decision to transfer batteries to Ukraine.  Until about two weeks ago, the issue of the supply of the SAM battery remained open due to the reluctance of both the Ministry of Defense and the military to hand over the SAMP/T to Ukraine.

This was explained by the fact that Italy has only five SAMP/T batteries in service, and one of them is deployed in Kuwait as part of Operation INHERENT.RESOLVE.

The SAMP/T air defense system battery is an effective system mainly against cruise and anti-radar missiles, as well as large drones. It also has limited anti-ballistic potential (against short-range missiles).

• On January 7, La Repubblica, citing sources in diplomatic circles, wrote that the US President's National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, discussed the issue of supplying Ukraine with a new aid package from Italy in a conversation with the diplomatic adviser of the Italian prime minister, Francesco Talo, on January 5. According to sources, Sullivan urged Talo to speed up the transfer of air defense systems.