Italy to Send a Second SAMP/T Air Defense System to Ukraine.

Italy will dispatch a second SAMP/T air defense system to Ukraine, responding to Kyiv's urgent appeals for enhanced protection against Russian missile strikes, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced in a radio interview on June 3, 2024.
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The SAMP/T (Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain), also known as MAMBA, is a long-range surface-to-air missile system. (Picture source: MBDA)

In 2023, Rome and Paris jointly delivered the first SAMP/T system to Ukraine. Ukraine has since persistently requested additional air defense support in the face of escalating missile attacks targeting its cities and energy infrastructure.

"It is confirmed that we will send the SAMP/T, an air defense instrument requested by Ukraine," Tajani told the state broadcaster Rai, confirming earlier media reports.

The SAMP/T will be included in a ninth package currently in preparation, although Tajani did not specify a delivery timeline. All previous shipments have been kept under official secrecy, with the government not disclosing the exact list of weapons sent to Ukraine.

On June 3, 2024, the Corriere della Sera newspaper also reported that the Italian government might approve the new supplies following the Group of Seven (G7) summit, which Italy will host from June 13 to 15.

The SAMP/T (Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain), also known as MAMBA, is a long-range surface-to-air missile system used by France, Italy, Singapore, and more recently Ukraine. Each Aster 30 missile, which forms the primary armament of the SAMP/T, has a launch weight of 450 kg and a length of 4.9 meters.

The system can intercept targets at a maximum distance of 100 km. The missiles are equipped with a highly explosive and fragmenting warhead, with an explosive load of 15 kg. To ensure maximum precision, the Aster 30 missiles use inertial guidance.

The SAMP/T uses the Arabel radar, which is essential for surveillance, target tracking, and missile guidance. This radar allows the system to track multiple targets and guide the missiles to their objectives with great precision, making the SAMP/T a key element of modern air defense.

In April, the G7 foreign ministers, during a meeting in Capri hosted by Italy, pledged to provide more air defense support to Ukraine, emphasizing their commitment to saving lives and protecting critical infrastructure.

The delivery of a new SAMP/T system is excellent news for Ukrainian forces, who are in dire need of air defense systems capable of intercepting Russian missiles. While the Patriot system is often mentioned, other systems like the SAMP/T can provide similar quality air defense. However, a single SAMP/T system will not be sufficient to bring about a major change in the ongoing conflict's dynamics; multiple air defense systems would be needed to create a Ukrainian "Iron Dome."