Italy ready to provide Ukraine with SAMP-T SAM, Aspide anti-aircraft missile system and Stinger MANPADS – Reuters

The Italian government is readying a new arms package for Ukraine including air defense systems.

Reuters reported about this with reference to the Italy’s ruling coalition representative.

The official told that Rome is ready to provide Ukraine with a variety of air-defense systems, including the medium-range Franco-Italian SAMP/T and Italian Aspide, as well as portable Stinger MANPADS.

It remains unclear how many of these Italy could offer or when any shipment might be delivered.

It is emphasized that Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto spoke by phone on Monday with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and pledged to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion for “as long as necessary”. In the official statement, it is noted that this regards air defense systems.

This is not the first information about the new aid package for Ukraine. Previously, the journalists of the Italian La Repubblica reported on the transfer of some air defense systems.

At that time, a possible transfer of the SAMP-T air defense system to Ukraine was discussed. The media, however, noted that intentions to transfer such weapons to Ukraine may face certain political conflicts. In case of a positive decision to supply SAMP-T, Italy would transfer the radars and France — the launchers.

In addition, it was also discussed a possible transfer by Italy of its Spada/Aspide ground-based anti-aircraft missile systems, which have been decommissioned, but are still capable of shooting down aircraft and drones.

There was no information regarding the transfer of Stinger MANPADS to Ukraine.

As of September 8, 2022, the United States had transferred more than 1,400 of these MANPADS to Ukraine. However, the latest aid packages no longer included such weapons.

It is also known that before the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received Stinger air-defense systems from Lithuania and Latvia. At the end of February, the Netherlands announced the transfer of these portable air-defense systems. It is also known about the 500 Stinger MANPADS that Ukraine received from Germany.

It’s worth noting, that these weapons could also come from other partner countries, which did not announce the content of the transferred aid.

Recently, Ukraine received the first batteries of the NASAMS air defense systems and the Aspide anti-aircraft missile system from the USA and Spain, respectively.