Italy to deliver third SAMP/T air defense battery to Ukraine in October
global.espreso.tv
Wed, 16 Jul 2025 16:35:00 +0300

Defense Express reported the information.Ukraine will receive its third SAMP/T air defense battery from Italy in October 2025, according to Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Olena Kondratiuk, who announced the news during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. The delivery, part of Italy’s eleventh military aid package to Ukraine, is expected to significantly strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend its airspace against both enemy aircraft and ballistic missiles.However, the arrival of the new system comes amid ongoing concerns about a shortage of interceptor missiles. While Italy has announced plans to ramp up missile production by 50% this year and double it next year, it remains unclear if this will be enough to supply all three SAMP/T batteries in Ukraine. Complicating matters, the European manufacturer MBDA has faced production delays, with some missiles taking up to 40 months to complete due to logistical challenges.Meanwhile, other European countries have shown interest in the SAMP/T system, but many are still weighing their options against the American-made Patriot system, which has demonstrated strong performance and faster production rates. As Ukraine prepares to deploy its latest air defense battery, the question of missile supply remains a critical issue for the effectiveness of its new European hardware.
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