Italy is strengthening its anti-aircraft defenses. The Leonardo company will develop radars capable of detecting ballistic threats at 3,000 km
Italy is taking another step in strengthening its air and anti-missile defense capabilities after Italian defense industry company Leonardo signed a contract to develop and deliver high-powered radars capable of detecting ballistic threats at distances of up to 3,000 kilometers.
The Michelangelo dome/PHOTO:X
The contract was signed with the state company TELEDIFE and provides for the supply of four advanced radar systems, part of the air and anti-missile defense program known as Michelangelo Dome. According to a statement from Leonardo, the agreement represents the second major stage of the program since its official presentation in November.
The signing of the contract took place after the successful completion of the first qualification test of the Italian SAMP/T NG surface-to-air missile system, held in early December. During the test, the system was equipped with a KRONOS high-power mobile radar, also developed by Leonardo.
The agreement provides for the delivery of two types of radar: a ground-based radar (GBR) and a mobile long-range radar (MLRR). Both systems use fully digital Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based AESA technology, which enables higher energy efficiency, extended detection range and high accuracy.
Leonardo states that the new radars will be able to perform missions of early warning, precise identification and tracking of targets, as well as updating the tactical situation in real time. These capabilities are critical to the coordination of fire control and interception systems within the open architecture and multi-domain integration concept on which the Michelangelo Dome is based.
The company's representatives emphasize that these features turn the new radars into key elements of a modern and integrated ballistic defense system. According to Leonardo, the completion of the program could position Italy among the European leaders in radar technologies and make it the first country in Europe to have its own integrated air and anti-missile defense systems capable of countering long-range threats.
The announcement comes in a broader context of strengthening defenses in Europe amid rising security concerns. Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy drew attention to the lack of missiles for the NASAMS and Patriot systems, saying that some partner states are focusing their resources on protecting their own territory.
