France Orders Seven Additional Next-Generation SAMP/T Air Defense Systems.

On September 17, 2024, during the European Air and Missile Defense Conference in Rome, French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, announced that France has ordered seven additional next-generation SAMP/T air defense systems. Developed and designed by Eurosam, a joint venture between MBDA and Thales, the contract was signed in July between the manufacturers and the French procurement agency, the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA).
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The SAMP/T (Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain), known as MAMBA in the French military, is a long-range surface-to-air missile system. (Picture source: French MoD)

With this new order, France has now commissioned a total of eight modernized SAMP/T systems, the first of which will be integrated into the armed forces by 2026. The contract for the seven systems is estimated to be worth around 500 million euros. These new batteries will eventually be able to incorporate VL-Mica missiles, new Aster 30 B1 missiles, and two AESA radars (Thales GF300 and Leonardo's Kronos GM HP). France aims to have 12 operational systems by 2035, with additional orders planned under the Military Programming Law (LPM) for four more systems by 2027. This announcement builds on a previous conference held in June 2023 at the Paris Air Show.

The SAMP/T (Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain), known as MAMBA in the French military, is a long-range surface-to-air missile system designed to protect battlefields and key tactical sites against a wide range of airborne threats, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles.

Equipped with Aster 30 missiles, the SAMP/T can intercept targets at altitudes ranging from 50 meters to 20 kilometers, with a maximum range of 100 kilometers against aircraft flying above 3 kilometers. It offers 360-degree detection and engagement coverage using its rotating radar antenna and vertical launch system. The SAMP/T can track up to 100 targets and simultaneously engage up to 10, providing robust air defense capabilities. It is also designed to be highly mobile, capable of rapid deployment and withdrawal, which allows it to operate efficiently within a larger defense network.

France has stated that it can deliver an operational system within two years of a contract's commencement. A missile testing campaign set for October marks a critical step toward the system's deployment. This rapid development and delivery schedule reflect the confidence in MBDA and Thales' ability to accelerate production rates for both the SAMP/T systems and the Aster 15 and 30 missiles. The French Air Force is expected to receive the first batch of Aster missiles ordered in early 2023 within the current year, with several dozen more planned for delivery in 2024.

During the conference in Rome, Sébastien Lecornu highlighted that "the SAMP/T is now an off-the-shelf product," emphasizing its availability for acquisition. He also noted that the SAMP/T is the only fully European system capable of intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, including hypersonic ones, while offering strategic autonomy compared to competing systems like the American Patriot.