Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Rome intends to provide air defense assistance to Gulf states facing Iranian strikes, aligning Italy with similar efforts by several European partners.
“Italy, like the United Kingdom, France and Germany, intends to provide assistance to the Gulf countries,” Meloni said in an interview with Italian radio station RTL 102.5. “It is clearly a question of air defense, not only because they are friendly nations, but also because tens of thousands of Italians are stationed in the region and around 2,000 Italian soldiers must be protected. The Gulf is also vital for the energy supply of Italy and Europe.”
Italy maintains several hundred troops across the Middle East as part of coalition and stabilization missions, including deployments in Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan. Italian personnel are also present at bases used for training, logistics and support to international operations, some of which have recently been exposed to regional missile and drone threats.
SAMP/T system among potential options
Officials indicated that Italy is evaluating options that could include both air defense batteries and anti-drone equipment, although no final decision on specific deployments has been announced.
Among the systems reportedly requested is the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system, also known as MAMBA, which can track multiple targets and intercept ballistic missiles.
However, Rome faces constraints in meeting those requests because the system is already in high demand across Europe and is currently being supplied to Ukraine.
In service since 2010 in France and 2012 in Italy, the Franco-Italian SAMP/T (MAMBA) system remains available in relatively limited numbers. The French Air and Space Force operates around eight batteries, while Italy originally fielded six systems with the Army’s 4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.
Both countries are now upgrading the system to the SAMP/T NG standard and plan to expand their inventories over the coming decade.
