Italy May Need Ukrainian Missiles to Close a Growing Long-Range Weapons Gap

Italy currently lacks long-range strike capabilities and should consider procuring Ukrainian-made missiles and drones as an interim solution before domestic European systems enter service in the next decade, according to the Italian defense publication RID.

According to Defense Express on May 13, the Italian outlet argued that Rome has no operational long-range strike systems available today, while several planned European programs—including the MBDA-led Stratus LO cruise missile and Italy’s domestically developed Teseo ER anti-ship missile—are not expected to be fielded until the 2030s.

RID reportedly noted that previous Italian efforts to acquire France’s MdCN cruise missile did not result in a procurement agreement. The MdCN remains one of the few European cruise missiles with a reported range of around 1,000 kilometers.

According to Defense Express, Italian analysts identified Ukrainian systems as one of the fastest available options for filling this capability gap. The publication referenced Ukraine’s “Peklo” cruise missile, the Areion missile project—which was publicly demonstrated earlier this year—as well as long-range strike drones such as the FP-1.

The report also highlighted the combat experience behind Ukrainian systems, noting that many of the platforms have already been used operationally during Russia’s war against Ukraine. RID reportedly argued that cooperation with Ukraine could allow Italian small and medium-sized defense companies to join production and supply chains through intergovernmental agreements.

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According to Defense Express, another option discussed by RID was MBDA UK’s Crossbow cruise missile project, unveiled in 2025. The system was presented as a lower-cost long-range strike weapon with a stated range of up to 800 kilometers and a 300-kilogram warhead.

However, the report noted that no confirmed procurement contracts for the missile have been publicly announced despite expectations of deliveries beginning in 2026.

The Italian publication also reportedly examined naval deployment concepts for long-range strike systems. One proposed approach involved placing cruise missiles or strike drones inside standardized shipping containers that could be installed aboard commercial vessels if required.

According to RID, such a configuration would allow flexible deployment without dependence on dedicated launch platforms.

Earlier, Germany and Ukraine announced a joint initiative to produce long-range “Deep Strike” drones with ranges of up to 1,500 kilometers. The partnership includes technology transfer, localized maintenance hubs inside Ukraine, and the integration of Ukrainian battlefield data to improve resistance against electronic warfare systems.

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