Italy preparing new air defense package for Ukraine with Aster 30 missiles
Italy is preparing a new package of military assistance for Ukraine, which may include Aster 30 interceptor missiles and air defense systems. According to La Repubblica, Rome expects to deliver some of the weapons by October, but Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stressed that the 13th aid package has not yet been officially formed and approved.
La Repubblica writes that the Italian government has been working for several weeks on a new package focused primarily on strengthening Ukrainian air and missile defense. It is planned to be formalized by a secret inter-agency decree, like previous arms deliveries to Ukraine.
According to the publication, in the near future Italy may hand over to Ukraine Aster 30 interceptor missiles from the reserves of its own armed forces. They are intended for the SAMP/T systems that are already in service in Ukraine. The delivery is planned before October, as Kyiv has an urgent need for means to counter Russian ballistic and cruise missiles.
As early as August 25, Crosetto confirmed that the next Italian package would not be limited to civilian assistance. Previously, the authorities publicly spoke primarily of generators for hospitals, schools, and energy infrastructure, but Italian media reported that air defense means and ammunition were also under discussion.
Ukraine ordered four new SAMP/T
Part of the larger project to strengthen Ukrainian air defense has already been officially announced and is not secret. On July 14, Ukraine and France announced Kyiv's intention to order four latest-generation SAMP/T NG batteries, jointly produced by France and Italy.
The same package is planned to include seven radars: five GM400, one French-made Ground Fire 300, and one Kronos produced by Italy's Leonardo. Funding is expected to be attracted from the European Ukraine Support Loan mechanism in 2026–2027.
The SAMP/T NG is a new generation of the Franco-Italian air and missile defense system. Ukraine is set to become its first combat operator.
The full-strength new batteries will be delivered gradually starting from 2027. Until then, France has pledged to temporarily provide Ukraine with two more SAMP/T systems, which Kyiv will later return after receiving the ordered new-generation systems.
As a result, if the announced plans are implemented, Ukraine will be able to simultaneously rely on existing and temporarily provided European systems, and then receive four new SAMP/T NG batteries.
Aster missiles also planned for production in Ukraine
France and Italy have also officially agreed to allow licensed production of Aster 30 missiles in Ukraine. The corresponding provision is contained in the joint Ukrainian-French declaration of July 14.
In addition, Paris and Rome agreed to accelerate the delivery of an already agreed quantity of Aster 30 by October 2026. It is against this backdrop that La Repubblica reports that part of the urgent delivery may be sourced directly from Italian military reserves.
The publication estimates the broader package of air defense systems, radars, and ammunition at around 3 billion euros. At the same time, the official Ukrainian-French declaration confirms funding through the Ukraine Support Loan but does not state such an overall cost for the project.
Italy's Defense Minister denied reports of a ready decree
After the La Repubblica publication, a political dispute erupted in Italy. Opposition representatives demanded that the government of Giorgia Meloni publicly explain the substance of the future aid to Ukraine.
Crosetto responded by saying that the publications give the impression that the 13th package has already been approved, although no such document exists yet. According to him, in 2026 no new package of assistance to Ukraine has been formally adopted.
The minister explained that after determining the specific aid, the government must prepare a decree, present it to the parliamentary security committee Copasir, and only then adopt the document in the established secret form. At the same time, Crosetto confirmed that Italy, together with partners, is ready to transfer to Ukraine technologies needed to develop its own air defense system.
Thus, the specific composition of the 13th Italian package has not yet been officially approved. However, both Italian media and government statements confirm that Rome is considering further military assistance to Ukraine, primarily in the field of air defense.
Based on materials from: La Repubblica, Italian Ministry of Defense, Office of the President of Ukraine
