The European Organization for Armaments Cooperation (OCCAR) has signed a contract for four SAMP/T NG air defence systems for the Italian Army. The amendment to an existing framework contract also covers improved Aster air defense missiles for the Italian Army and Navy, prepares the future series production of SAMP/T NG systems for the French Air Force and covers the purchase of further equipment for the mid-life update of the Aster interceptors by the UK.
SAMP/T NG is an improved version of the system already in service with the French and Italian armed forces and is equipped with new-generation Aster interceptor missiles and more powerful multifunction radars from Thales or Leonardo is equipped. According to Eurosam, the Franco-German joint venture between Thales and MBDA, which won the main contract, the system will be delivered from 2025. https://militaeraktuell.at/es-wird-kein-stein-auf-dem-anderen-bleiben/ In July last year, OCCAR signed an additional contract to the framework contract for air defense missiles, known by the joint Franco-Italian acronym FSAF-PAAMS, which provides for the purchase of five SAMP/T NG systems for the Italian Air Force worth around 700 million euros. SAMP/T NG has a reconnaissance range of more than 350 kilometers and an interception range of more than 150 kilometers and, according to Eurosam, can engage several targets simultaneously. The system uses MBDA’s Aster missile, a 450-kilogram two-stage interceptor missile with a length of 4.9 meters that can reach a speed of Mach 4.5 and is capable of high-speed maneuvers. A complete SAMP/T NG system includes a radar with 360-degree coverage, a command and control module and up to six launchers, each equipped with eight Aster 30 missiles, with one battery typically requiring 20 crew members, according to the manufacturer. Each launcher can fire its eight missiles in about ten seconds.
