Ukraine Runs Out of SAMP/T Air Defense Munitions, Presses Italy

Ukraine’s pair of SAMP/T air defense batteries are on the verge of being unusable for want of munitions.

The systems were delivered by France and Italy to the embattled country over the last two years.

Following extensive usage, the Ukrainians have practically exhausted the systems’ effectors — the Aster-30, according to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

Kyiv has been asking for an additional supply for weeks now, with a minimum current requirement of an estimated 50 missiles, the outlet added.

According to Corriere della Sera, the Italian reserves of the missiles are also near the tipping point of exhaustion, compounding the matter.

The country needs a certain level of the missiles for its own requirements.

It is not clear whether France was sounded out for the requirement. 

Defense Ministers Meet

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov met Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in Rome last week, where the air defense and ammunition were parts of discussions.

According to Defense Express, the Aster-30’s relatively limited usage is one of the main reasons for its limited production.

Apart from the SAMP/T, the missile is deployed on 30 warships of the navies of France, Italy, the UK, Algeria, Egypt, and Qatar.

As though seizing upon the issue, France, the UK, and Italy recently ordered the production of 218 additional Aster missiles — the Aster 15 and Aster 30.

A consortium of MBDA Italy, MBDA France, and Thales, called Eurosam, produces the Aster.

The Aster 30’s maximum operational range is 150 kilometers (93 miles) and its maximum altitude is 25 kilometers (15.5 miles).