Meloni: Air defence aid not just for friends, but to protect Italians and troops
Italy plans to send air-defence assistance to Gulf countries targeted by Iranian strikes launched in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday, as the widening conflict raises security concerns across the region.
“Italy, like the UK, France and Germany, intends to send aid to the Gulf countries,” Meloni told RTL 102.5 radio. She said the assistance would focus on defensive capabilities.
“We are clearly talking about defence, air defence, not just because they are friendly nations but because there are tens of thousands of Italians in that area and around 2,000 Italian soldiers that we must protect,” she said.
Meloni added that stability in the Gulf was crucial for Europe’s energy security, describing the region as “vital for energy supplies for Italy and Europe”.
What is the SAMP/T air-defence system?
- European missile shield: SAMP/T (Sol-Air Moyenne Portée/Terrestre) is a Franco-Italian surface-to-air missile defence system developed by Eurosam, a joint venture between MBDA and Thales Group.
- Designed to intercept missiles and aircraft: It is built to destroy ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones and enemy aircraft, protecting cities, military bases and key infrastructure.
- Uses Aster interceptor missiles: The system fires Aster 30 missile interceptors that can strike incoming targets at ranges of up to about 120 km and at high altitude.
- Mobile and rapid-deployment: Mounted on trucks with radar and launch units, SAMP/T can be quickly deployed and repositioned, making it suitable for protecting forward bases or vulnerable sites.
- Europe’s answer to Patriot Often compared with the Patriot missile system, SAMP/T is one of Europe’s most advanced ground-based air-defence systems and is used by several Nato countries.
Italian officials said the government was considering sending military equipment including an air-defence system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
