Italy will provide Ukraine with a military aid package to strengthen its air defense.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated this at the Conference on Ukraine’s Recovery in Berlin.

According to him, the new military aid package will focus on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense.

In particular, it concerns the transfer of an additional battery of the SAMP/T air defense system, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

“I want to inform you that Italy is ready to send a new military package with SAMP/T for Ukraine’s air defense,” Tajani said at a panel session during the conference.

According to him, Italy is ready not only to provide military assistance to Ukraine but also to support it in other sectors.

“There is a second piece of news. A new package worth €140 million for infrastructure, railways, healthcare, agri-food, humanitarian sector, and demining. This is a new decision of the Italian government,” the Italian Minister added.

At the beginning of June, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the transfer of an additional battery of the SAMP/T air defense system. However, he did not provide any timeframe for the transfer.

Tajani added that SAMP/T will be delivered as part of the next batch of military aid, which is already being prepared.

This battery is to be the second for the Ukrainian army. In early 2023, Italy and France jointly assembled a battery from their own components and transferred it to Ukraine to protect cities and industrial facilities from numerous Russian missile attacks.

SAMP/T air defense system

The Italian version of the system is based on an Iveco M320 or ACTL HD8 truck. Its battery consists of four self-propelled launchers, a self-propelled radar, and a control post.

The Italian SAMP/T can destroy aerodynamic targets at a distance of 100+ km and at an altitude of up to 25 km. At the same altitude, the system intercepts ballistic missiles at a distance of up to 25 km.