ITALY’S MELONI REPORTEDLY PREPARES NEW AIR DEFENSE PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE
The government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reportedly quietly approved a new military aid package aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, according to La Repubblica, in a report subsequently picked up by several other media outlets.
The package is said to include four SAMP/T NG batteries the next-generation Franco-Italian air defense system designed to counter a range of threats, including ballistic missiles—along with Aster 30 interceptors and seven long-range radar systems.
The reported assistance forms part of a broader agreement reached between Paris and Kyiv in July. France and Italy are also expected to accelerate deliveries of Aster 30 missiles, while Ukraine is set to become the first operational user of the SAMP/T NG system.
According to Italian media reports, the new aid package could be formally announced in the near future. Its objective would be to significantly improve Ukraine’s ability to detect, track, and intercept Russian attacks, particularly ballistic missile strikes.