France has contracted Eurosam to upgrade the in-development SAMP/T NG air defense system with the VL MICA short-range interceptor, enabling it to counter the full spectrum of aerial threats.
The country has already ordered eight SAMP/T NG systems equipped with the latest Aster 30 B1NT interceptor, capable of engaging tactical ballistic missiles and conventional air-breathing threats at ranges beyond 150 kilometers (93 miles).
The system features the Thales Ground Fire 300 rotating active electronically scanned array radar, which provides 360-degree coverage and a detection range of up to 350 kilometers (217 miles).
Multilayer SAMP/T NG
In its multilayer configuration, the SAMP/T NG becomes a fully scalable system capable of countering saturation and complex multi-axis attacks involving crewed and uncrewed aircraft, cruise missiles, anti-radiation missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles.
The upgrade will modify the SAMP/T NG’s engagement module and Ground Fire 300 radar to integrate up to six Aster launchers and six VL MICA launchers, which offer engagement ranges of up to 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) and 40 kilometers (25 miles) in the VL MICA NG variant.
The engagement module will coordinate fires between the two missile families, assigning the most suitable interceptor to each target.
Deliveries of the multilayer configuration are scheduled to begin in 2030.
“In an operational context where the number and diversity of air threats are increasingly important, the SAMP/T NG will allow for even more efficient ground-to-air defence, through an optimised use of effectors,” the French Ministry for Armed Forces stated in a press release.
“They will help build a broad, fully integrated air defence that is necessary for the AAE (French Air and Space Force) to maintain its ability to counter all types of threats in the decades to come.”
