BulgarianMilitary.com
The head of the communications department of the Air Force Command, Yuriy Ignat, revealed that an Italian-French air defense system known as the SAMP/T had shot down a Russian Sukhoi military aircraft during Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Speaking at a discussion event titled “Defensive Talks: Sky Without KAB,” Ignat shared this detail without specifying the exact model of the aircraft, the date of the incident, or the location where it occurred.
His comments, reported by Ukrainian media outlets like Censor.NET and Suspilne, shed light on the system’s role in the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ignat noted, “SAMP/T took down a Sukhoi. But there were other targets too. There’s a confirmed aircraft.”
Ukraine first received the SAMP/T system in August 2023, marking a significant addition to its air defense capabilities as it continues to fend off Russian aerial attacks.
The delivery of the SAMP/T to Ukraine traces back to a collaborative effort by France and Italy, two NATO allies committed to supporting Kyiv against Moscow’s aggression. The war, now in its third year, has seen Ukraine rely heavily on Western-supplied equipment to counter Russia’s superior air forces and missile barrages.
