France and Italy to buy 700 missiles for antimissile systems promised to Ukraine
SAMP/T antimissile systems (Photo:French Ministry of Defense)
The Defense Ministers of France and Italy, Sébastien Lecornu and Guido Crosetto respectively, have agreed on the purchase of 700 Aster 30 missiles for SAMP/T antimissile systems, which Ukraine is expected to receive, the French publication L'Opinion reported on Jan. 27.
According to the publication, the deal was struck during Lecornu’s visit to Rome on Jan. 27.
This batch of Aster 30 missiles will cost about EUR 2 billion ($2.17 billion). However, it is not known exactly how many missiles will be transferred to the Ukrainian military.
Lecornu confirmed on Twitter that Ukraine was on the agenda of the meeting with his Italian counterpart.
“We shared a common commitment to continue supporting Ukraine, safeguard the Mediterranean Sea from new threats, and increase our joint production capabilities, in particular in the field of air defense,” the French minister said.
At the end of December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Then it officially became known that Rome was considering the transfer of air defense systems to Ukraine.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with Corriere della Sera on Jan. 21 that Rome and Paris were finalizing preparations for sending SAMP/T systems to Ukraine. He said Italy and France were planning other actions of support that were being worked on confidentially.
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