Earlier, the Italian government announced the preparation of a new package of weapons for Ukraine Rome plans to send air defense systems to Ukraine, possibly including the SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system.
At the same time, Italy reported some problems related to the training of Ukrainian calculations and the subsequent maintenance of this system, and the head of the Italian Defense Ministry, Crozetto, announced the suspension of arms supplies to Kiev from December 31. At the same time, the transfer of NASAMS, IRIS-T SLM, Hawk, Spada/Skyguard Aspide and SAMP/T to Ukraine in the future will greatly increase the combat capabilities of the AFU, and the AFU anti-aircraft missile forces will then finally switch to NATO standards. "Newspaper.Ru" dealt with the details of a possible delivery.
Italy's plans
Italy has not yet disclosed information about what specific weapons, military and special equipment it had previously transferred to Ukraine. However, according to some reports, Rome supplied Kiev with portable Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, mortars, Milan and Panzerfaust anti-tank missile systems, as well as Browning heavy machine guns, single MG-3 machine guns and systems for combating improvised explosive devices. It is reported that the government of Mario Draghi, who resigned, also sent multiple rocket launchers, PzH 2000 howitzers and various vehicles to Ukraine in 2022.
Since Russia uses Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles in the special operation, Kiev has requested the supply of additional air defense systems from Western countries. Especially painful for the Ukrainian side were the attacks by cruise missiles of various types of basing and barrage ammunition on the capital of the state - Kiev. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that he had specifically asked Italy to send national-made air defense equipment to Ukraine.
This interview reinforced rumors that SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile batteries created by Italy and France may already be on their way to the line of contact. This is reported by Defense News with reference to the Rome analytical center IAI.
On November 10, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said in an interview with Il Messaggero newspaper that Italy was not preparing new arms supplies for Ukraine.
"We are not preparing the sixth package and we are not talking about the supply of missiles to Ukraine. I do not rule out that in the future there will be a new order within the framework of NATO and the European Union on further military assistance to Ukraine, but for now we are completing the supply of weapons promised by the previous government," the politician said.
At the same time, Crozetto recalled that Italy is still providing military assistance within the framework of the resolution approved by the majority in parliament, and will do so until December 31, but the authorities may reconsider the approach.
After the la Repubblica newspaper reported on the possible adoption by Italy of a new decree on military assistance to Ukraine, Il Messaggero, citing government sources, reported that Rome had frozen the sixth aid package. Then the Reuters news agency, citing a representative of the Italian government coalition, reported that Italy was ready to provide Ukraine with air defense systems, including SAMP/T air defense systems, Aspide missiles and portable Stinger complexes.
SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system
The SAMP/T (EUROSAM Land system) air defense system planned for transfer to Ukraine entered service with the Italian army in 2013. It is designed for anti-aircraft missile cover of the country's facilities and the armed forces from attacks by all means of air attack, including tactical ballistic missiles. The complex functions in all weather conditions and in conditions of a complex interference situation.
The SAMP/T air defense system includes: a fire control system, including a multifunctional radar with Arabel headlights; self-propelled launchers with eight transport and launch containers on an Astra/Iveco automobile chassis (for Italy) and Renault-TRM-10000 (for France), an 8x8 wheel formula; ASTER-30 anti-aircraft guided missiles.
SAMP-T SAM is distinguished by a high rate of fire and minimal reaction time. Eight missiles with one PU can be launched in just 10 seconds. The firing range of the complex reaches 100 km. The upper limit of the affected area is 25 km.
In 2016, Italy sent one SAMP-T anti-aircraft missile battery to Turkey as part of the NATO operation to protect the city of Kahramanmaras from the threat of Syrian missile strikes.
However, there are at least two problems with sending SAMP/T SAMs to Ukraine. Firstly, it is a technically complex system. It takes a relatively long time to train Ukrainian calculations. Secondly, there are only five SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile batteries in the combat composition of Italy's air defense systems. That is, in fact, Italy has nothing to send to Ukraine without compromising its own defense capability.
In this regard, it is quite possible that Italy is likely to supply its older and more widespread anti-aircraft missile system Skyguard-Aspide, created by MBDA and the German company Rheinmetall. But the issue of SAMP/T supplies has not yet been removed from the agenda.
The first deliveries of weapons, military and special equipment from Italy to Ukraine were sanctioned by the government of then Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who was replaced by far-right leader Georgia Meloni after the elections last month. Meloni heads a coalition with the leader of the Northern League party Matteo Salvini and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. At first, there were fears that the new Meloni administration might refuse to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine. But Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has repeatedly expressed support for Kiev and has repeatedly confirmed that the flow of weapons to Ukraine from Italy will continue continuously.
But it is not only Italy that is going to (or is already supplying) air defense systems to Ukraine. In the new package of military assistance to Ukraine from the United States, there are four batteries of the Avenger short-range air defense system and missiles for the MIM-23 Hawk medium-range air defense system. The Spanish government is transferring two more MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft missile batteries to Ukraine in addition to the four that were previously sent to Kiev.
M1097 Avenger short- range air defense system
Earlier deliveries of the M1097 Avenger system to Ukraine were not carried out. This is a short-range anti-aircraft missile system placed on the chassis of an all-terrain vehicle HMMWV. The SAM was developed by the American company Boeing Aerospace Company together with General Electric. Designed to hit air targets on oncoming courses and in pursuit at altitudes of 0.5-3.8 km and ranges of 0.5-5.5 km.
The M1097 Avenger complex is equipped with Stinger anti-aircraft missiles with a thermal homing head and is characterized by a high level of automation, short reaction time, high firepower and mobility. The Avenger air defense system provides live firing both during the day and at night, in difficult weather conditions.
In addition to the MIM-23 Hawk air defense system and the Avenger short-range air defense system, in the near future Kiev will receive from Spain one battery of the Aspide anti-aircraft missile system and several ammunition sets of anti-aircraft guided missiles.
Aspide Rockets
The Spada/Skyguard Aspide or Toledo air defense system is a short-range anti-aircraft missile system. All Aspide vehicles are made on towed chassis. The Oerlikon Skyguard control system is a van with two radar stations, other radio equipment and an operator's cabin.
The launcher for the Aspide SAM is built on a wheeled platform with jacks. A rocking part with four transport and launch containers for missiles is placed on the support-rotary device.
The Aspide missile (based on the AIM-7 Sparrow, an American medium-range guided air-to-air missile with a semi-active radar homing head) is equipped with a high-explosive warhead weighing 35 kg. The flight speed of the product is M - 4, the firing range reaches - 25 km. Product length - 3.63 m, weight - 228 kg.
A number of sources emphasize that the air defense systems currently supplied to Ukraine are far from new and were developed several decades ago. However, those means of air attack that are used during a special military operation are quite capable of all systems that arrive to strengthen the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Of course, the transfer of NASAMS, IRIS-T SLM, Hawk, Spada/Skyguard Aspide and SAMP/T to Ukraine will significantly increase the combat capabilities of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We can also say this - the Air Defense Forces of Ukraine in this area will finally switch to NATO standards.
But so far, the supply of anti-aircraft missile weapons from the United States and other countries of the North Atlantic Alliance is clearly insufficient to ensure reliable air defense of most administrative and political centers of Ukraine, points of the highest levels of state and military administration of the country, the most important groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the most optimistic estimates, the process of transition of the Air Defense Forces to NATO air defense equipment at the current rate of delivery will take several years.
Mikhail Khodarenok
