The SAMP-T is a mobile surface-to-air missile system developed as part of a Franco-Italian project, which can be used against fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles and some ballistic missiles.
Italy will deploy an anti-aircraft defense system in central Turkey as part of the NATO defense plan, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday.
“As part of NATO’s permanent defense plan, and in order to strengthen the air defense of the (Atlantic) Alliance, a SAMP-T air defense system belonging to Italy will be deployed within the 3rd command of the main fighter base in Konya,” indicated the ministry in a press release.
Franco-Italian project
The SAMP-T is a mobile surface-to-air missile system developed as part of a Franco-Italian project, which can be used against fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles and some ballistic missiles.
NATO forces, of which Italy and Turkey are members, have shot down ballistic missiles fired from Iran towards Turkish territory four times since March, leading the Alliance to deploy a new battery of Patriot missiles at the Incirlik air base in the south of the country.
NATO chief Mark Rutte, visiting Ankara in April, assured that the Alliance would do “what is necessary to defend” its members. Turkey is due to host the NATO summit on July 7-8.
