Italy plans to transfer Storm Shadow cruise missiles as part of a new military aid package to Ukraine.

The Italian edition of Fatto Quotidiano reported on this, citing its own sources.

The ninth tranche of military aid from Italy, which Defense Minister Guido Crossetto will present to parliament by the end of the month, will include a batch of Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

The government is to announce the transfer of a new defense aid package at the NATO summit in Washington on July 9-11.

The newspaper notes that the inclusion of long-range missiles in the new package confirms the change in the political position of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on military support for Ukraine: during the European Parliament election campaign, this issue, which is very unpopular in Italian society, was hidden. However, after the voting was over, the Prime Minister returned to an active position.

Previously, during his visit to the MBDA UK production site, UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps said that Italy had already supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine.

“I believe that Storm Shadow was an extraordinary weapon. The UK, France, and Italy are preparing this weapon for use, in particular in occupied Crimea,” the Minister said.

Traditionally, Italy does not disclose details of military assistance to Ukraine. To date, the government has not officially announced the transfer of missiles of this type to Ukraine.

Italy placed the first order for the Storm Shadow in 1999, and according to unofficial data, the Italian Air Force has received 200 Storm Shadow missiles since then.

SAMP/T

In addition to cruise missiles, the ninth military aid package will also include the SAMP/T air defense system. This information was publicly confirmed by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on June 11.

According to local media, the country is to hand over the battery, which is currently deployed in Kuwait but is due to return to Italy soon.

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 handed it over to Ukraine to protect cities and industrial facilities from numerous Russian missile attacks.