The recent Netflix movie A House of Dynamite offers an interesting starting point to reflect on what could happen if a similar scenario unfolded in Europe — and, more specifically, in Italy.
In the real world, those dangers take the form of cruise missiles, drones, and long-range precision weapons capable of hitting targets hundreds of kilometers away within minutes.
Italy possesses modern and capable air and missile defense assets, but probably too few to ensure a truly comprehensive and reliable protection of its national territory.
At the heart of this shield is the Franco-Italian SAMP/T system, developed by Eurosam (MBDA–Thales) and equipped with Leonardo’s Kronos Grand Mobile High Power radar and Aster 30 interceptors. It can track and destroy aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles at ranges of around 150 km, and its next-generation version — the SAMP/T NG — will bring improved speed, accuracy, and effectiveness against complex or even hypersonic threats. One Italian battery is currently deployed in Lithuania under NATO command, showing how Rome’s contribution extends well beyond its borders. Complementing this long-range shield, the Italian Army is also introducing Rheinmetall’s Skynex for short-range defense — a fully automated gun system designed to neutralize drones and loitering munitions, now among the most frequent threats in modern conflicts.
The Italian Navy provides the second pillar of this architecture, acting as a mobile and flexible extension of national air defense. The Horizon-class destroyers Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio are equipped with Aster 15/30 interceptors and EMPAR radars, capable of defending entire task groups from aerial threats. In 2021, Caio Duilio successfully intercepted a supersonic target during NATO exercises — a clear demonstration of Italy’s ability to project advanced air and missile defense at sea. Several FREMM-class frigates also contribute to this floating shield, and the future DDX destroyers, fitted with Leonardo’s new Kronos Dual Band radar, will further extend coverage and link seamlessly with NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) network.
However, even a sophisticated system like Italy’s faces important limitations. One lies in the type and range of missiles that can currently be employed — capable against tactical ballistic or cruise threats, but not yet suited for the interception of higher-altitude or intercontinental systems. The other challenge is the limited number and mobility of available batteries, which create only a few isolated “protection bubbles.” These can be repositioned quickly, but they cannot ensure the same level of coverage across the entire national territory — leaving large areas potentially less defended in a saturation scenario.
Despite these constraints, Italy’s overall structure remains one of the most coherent and layered in Europe: long-range protection from SAMP/T batteries and naval destroyers, medium-range coverage from Aster 15 and Aspide, and short-range defense through Stinger, Skynex, and naval CIWS systems. Behind it stands a robust industrial base — Leonardo, MBDA Italia, Rheinmetall Italia — that not only sustains national needs but exports high-end technology and know-how abroad, making Italy a true contributor within NATO’s missile-defense ecosystem.
In an age when long-range precision strikes and drone swarms have become part of the strategic landscape, Italy’s missile shield represents more than a technical achievement: it’s a statement of preparedness. It reminds us that deterrence depends not only on technology, but on readiness, coordination, and the ability to adapt. And just like in House of Dynamite, one spark — or one missed interception — could change everything.
Leave a comment