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SAMP/T Aster 30 MAMBA

Surface-to-air defense missile system - France

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

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SAMP T Mamba Aster 30 surface to air defense missile system France 925 001

Description

The SAMP/T also called MAMBA in the French army is a theatre antimissile system designed to protect the battlefield and sensitive tactical sites (such as airports and seaports) against all current and future airborne threats, including cruise missiles, manned and unmanned aircraft, and tactical ballistic missiles in the 600 km range class. The SAMP/T is produced by Eurosam, a 50:50 joint venture between MBDA and Thales. Its key components are the Aster 30 interceptor and Arabel multi-function radar. The SAMP/T has been designed to operate in extreme clutter and electronic countermeasures environments. Interoperability with other NATO air defense systems is another key for the SAMP/T program. The entire system could be airlifted by the latest NATO tactical transport aircraft such as the Airbus A400M and Lockheed-Martin C-130J Super Hercules deploying them anywhere around the globe. The SAMP/T alos nicknamed MAMBA by the French Air Force is the cornerstone of Italy and France’s contributions to the North Atlantic Alliance tactical ballistic missile defense capability. The French Air Force currently owns 7 MAMBA systems whilst the Italian Army owns 3 systems. The French Air Force, after the Volfa exercise in February 2011, deployed a MAMBA (SAMP/T) unit to provide air defense coverage for the G8 summit in Deauville. The first French MAMBA squadron achieved operational status in October 2011. In March 2012 the MAMBA (SAMP/T) proved its ability to support Army mobile formations while matching their maneuver tempo. In June 2012, the Italian Army activates its first SAMP/T Regiment, in Mantova. On 6 March 2013, the Italian Army and the French Air Force deployed their SAMP/T medium-range air defense systems for the first time within a NATO architecture in successfully intercepting a target representative of a theatre ballistic missile. After about 300 km of ballistic flight, the target, which had been launched from an aircraft, was destroyed by the Aster 30 interceptor missile. In September 2013, Singapore's Defense Minister has announced that the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will acquire the Eurosam Aster 30 / SAMP-T Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Air Defense System to establish a multi-layered defense against aerial threats. According to information published by the International Press agency Reuters on November 10, 2022, Italy could provide Ukraine with one battery of the SAMP/T air defense missile system. International press agency Reuters on January 26, 2023, published news to announce that France and Italy are in the final stage for the supply of one SAMP/T air defense missile system to Ukraine. On February 3, 2023, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that the SAMP/R air defense missile system jointly developed by Italy and France will be delivered to Ukraine within the next two months. On February 6, 2023, it was announced that France and Italy will jointly produce the New Generation SAMP/T NG air defense missile system. In March 2023, Slovakia announced it will replace its Patriot systems with MAMBAs. On June 20, 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the SAMP/T is now deployed in Ukraine. On November 29, 2023, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) celebrated the attainment of Full Operational Capability (FOC) status for its SAMP/T Aster 30 Medium-range Surface-to-Air Defense Missile (MSAM) system.

SAMP/T MAMBA variants:

- There is also a navalised version of the Aster 30 missile called Aster 30N.
- SAMP/T NG (New Generation) includes:
* An enhanced missile to enlarge the ASTER family: the ASTER Block 1 NT (new technology) with a new seeker and a new computer able to face the new emerging threats.
* An upgraded launcher featuring new electronic equipment.
* A new multifunction rotating Active Electronically Scanned Array radar.
* A command and control module based on upgraded open command and control software architecture and enhanced connectivity.

Technical Data

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Launch Unit

The SAMP/T MAMBA launcher vehicle is fitted with eight ready-to-fire missile containers mounted at the rear side of an 8x8 truck chassis. Each missile can be salvo-fired from a single launcher in less than ten seconds. In the firing position, the missile containers are erected on the rear side of the truck. During the firing, four hydraulic stabilizers are lowered on the ground, towed at the rear of the truck chassis, and one on each side.

Missile

The SAMP/T uses the Aster 30 block 1 missile which is equipped with a modified seeker, fuse, signal processing, and a directional blast warhead where larger warhead fragments are directed toward the target. The Aster 30 missile has a tandem first-stage solid propellant booster motor which is jettisoned after launch and turn-over and before the mid-course phase. The missile uses inertial mid-course guidance, with guidance correction update data being transmitted from the ground-based fire control center via the Arabel multifunction radar's uplink data channel. The maximum speed of Aster 30 missiles is 1.4km/sec. Aster 30 has the capability to intercept targets at altitudes from 50 m to 20 km. against aircraft targets flying at altitudes above 3 km, the maximum range of the Aster 30 is 100 km. At aircraft targets with altitudes below 3 km, the range of Aster 30 is 50 km.

Mobility

The missile launcher unit of the French army SAMP/T is mounted on a Renault 8x4 Kerax transporter erector launcher vehicle. The SAMP/T for the Italian Army will be mounted on Astra 8x8 transporter erector launcher trucks, each truck with eight missiles. The Kerax truck is a militarized rigid tractor truck based on commercial vehicles which are adapted to the specific needs of armed forces.

Command and Control Vehicles

The SAMP/T system comprises a fire control unit based on the ARABEL multi-function electronic scanning radar, avertical Ground Launcher truck unit, mounted on Italian Astra/Iveco and French Renault-KERAX 8x8 trucks, engagement module including Mara computer and Magics operator consoles mounted on Kerax truck, a power generator module mounted on Kerax truck, maintenance and repair Kerax truck and missile reloader vehicle.

Combat Use

• Anti-missile and anti-aircraft capability covering all the latest threats, whose behavior is characterized by their speed, maneuverability, angle of attack, and flight altitude. This capability is delivered primarily by the reaction time of the fire control system and the maneuverability of the missile;
• 360° detection and engagement coverage ensured by each section deployed: the rotating multi-function radar antenna and the vertical missile launch system;
• High firepower compatible with countering multiple, coordinated, and multidirectional attacks (up to 48 missiles ready to fire);
• The ability to track 100 trajectories and engage 10 of them simultaneously and the basis of priority criteria;
• High resistance to counter-measures;
• Forward strike capability (tactical and strategic mobility);
• Very short system deployment and withdrawal;
• Very limited number of personnel required to deploy and operate the system;
• The ability to work in stand-alone mode or as an integral part of a wider architecture.

Specifications

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Type	Weight Missile
Long-range surface-to-air missile systems	450 kg launch weight
Armament	Length Missile
Eight missiles Aster 30	4.9 m
Country users	Range Missile
France, Italy, Singapore, Ukraine	100 km
Warhead	Guidance Missile
High explosive; fragmentation	Inertial guidance
Explosive Load	Radar
15 kg	Arabel radar for surveillance, tracking and missile guidance.

Details View

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SAMP/T MRT missile reloader vehicle