France orders Four (4) additional firing units of SAMP/T NG air and missile defence system
Eurosam – October 22, 2026 –The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), acting on behalf of France, awarded eurosam a contract to produce 4 additional firing units of SAMP/T NG air and missile defence system. With this order, the total number of SAMP/T NG systems ordered by France amounts to 12. The SAMP/T NG firing units will be delivered to the French Air and Space Force in a multi-layer ASTER / MICA VL configuration.
This order is an additional step towards the renewal of the European Long-Range Air and Missile Defence ground capabilities, following the SAMP/T NG development launched in 2021.
OCCAR-EA (Executive Administration) and eurosam are proud of this achievement, result of a close work with the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA). OCCAR-EA, eurosam and its members, MBDA and Thales will continue to lead the way in state of the art and sovereign air and Missile defence systems for the benefit of European defence. These advanced air defence systems are crucial in the current global context to respond to increasingly challenging threats.
The SAMP/T NG system is developed through a cooperation between France and Italy. Designed to manage the munitions of the Aster family (Aster 30 B1 and Aster B1NT), it will be able to offer a multilayer capability by integration and coordination of SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defence) and V-SHORAD (Very Short-Range Air Defence) assets.
SAMP/T NG has the following advanced key capabilities to provide ground based long-range air and missile defence, enabling:
- Full integration into national and NATO air defence network.
- Quick deployment with a limited number of personnel for 360° protection to armed forces, dense civilian environments and sensitive military sites.
- Defeat of all types of threats simultaneously and in any combination.
- Countering emerging and future threats as diverse as manoeuvring ballistic missiles, re-entry vehicle ballistic missiles, high speed tactical missiles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and highly manoeuvring aircraft in saturating attack scenario and a challenging cyber environment.
- Cooperation with allied military aircraft.
eurosam
The eurosam GIE (Economic Interest Grouping) is a Franco-Italian joint-venture created between MBDA France, MBDA Italy and Thales. For more than 35 years, it has been the industrial prime contractor and design authority for Aster missile-based air defence systems.
The result of cooperation between France and Italy, extended to the United Kingdom, the systems developed by eurosam both in their land (SAMP/T) and naval (SAAM and PAAMS) applications have proven their effectiveness in combat.
Today, eurosam is positioned as the only European system manufacturer capable of offering sovereign medium and long-range air defence solutions. To meet current defence challenges, eurosam continues to innovate to offer its customers defence systems able to defeat current and future threats. This ability to anticipate and to innovate is based on the recognised expertise of its teams and that of its shareholders in terms of research and development and programme management.
SAMP/T NG
SAMP/T NG is the new version of the SAMP/T system today in service in France and in Italy. SAMP/T NG is a strategic system that offers an advance anti-access / area-denial capability. SAMP/T NG is the only European long-range air defence solution guaranteeing air sovereignty as well as protection of the armed forces and sensitive civil or military sites against all current and future threats (cruise missile, ballistic missiles, anti-radar missiles, UAV, helicopter and aircraft).
Designed to operate in a civilian air environment, the system is capable of operating with friendly military aircraft. It is fully integrated into the national air defence network and fully interoperable with NATO / coalition systems. SAMP/T NG extended engagement capability provides 360-degree protection capable of simultaneously engaging any combination of air and missile threats further than 150 km.
SAMP/T NG Firing Unit has four main components:
- Up to 48 Aster missiles ready to fire.
- 1 multi-function radar and IFF module able to detect and identify targets further than 350 km.
- 1 engagement module.
- Up to 6 launchers modules capable of carrying 8 missiles each.
The whole system is mobile and can be operational in less than 30 minutes.
ASTER B1NT MISSILE
Being a pillar of sovereign air defence, ASTER is the only European missile family capable of defeating the most high-end threats, from highly manoeuvrable targets up to hypersonic threats. The ASTER B1NT missile provides an extended air defence domain and an improved interception capability to face the evolution of new complex threats.
Building on a unique aerodynamic and pyrotechnic architecture, it benefits from a disruptive guidance technology based on a Ka seeker and new interception algorithms, as well as the latest generation of electronics equipment to feature an unmatched hit-to-kill capability.
These brand-new technologies deliver a significant performance enhancement as the ASTER B1NT missile will cover the full spectrum of threats, including Short to Medium Range tactical Ballistic Missiles (SRBM and MRBM), low manoeuvring and hypersonic missiles.
