From 2026, France will start manufacturing a new SAM SAMP/T NG, which should shoot down even the “Dagger”

The French have decided to accelerate the launch of their own anti-missile complex with high declared capabilities

Source: Defence Express

< p>The Law on Defense Programming (LPM) of France for the period 2024-2030 provides that as early as 2026, the production and deliveries to the French armed forces of the latest SAMP/T NG anti-aircraft missile systems, which are supposed to shoot down even hypersonic and aeroballistic missiles, should begin. By 2030, eight such complexes should be delivered, by 2034 – an additional four air defense systems of this type.

Compared to previous plans, this is a significant acceleration in the launch of SAMP/T NG into production. Because before that it was assumed that the production of these air defense systems would start no earlier than 2027.

As the Opex360 portal further explains in its publication, SAMP/T NG will retain all the strengths of its “predecessor” under the designation SAMP/T, which were demonstrated in particular during the repulsion of Russian air attacks.

At the same time, the latest French anti-missile complex should be distinguished not only by the ability to shoot down high-speed targets at significant distances, but also by the ability to conduct combat operations in conditions of the active operation of EW tools and enemy cyber attacks.

Also, the French here are actually proud of the fact that the SAMP/T NG works are proceeding at a fast pace, because work on such a complex started only at the beginning of 2023. And they even emphasize that this complex will be a “significant technological breakthrough in relation to the American Patriot air defense system”. there are no clear visual details of how exactly this complex should differ from its predecessor, we can only see general outlines.

But if we talk in general about the components of this complex and the declared characteristics, the picture looks as follows. This air defense system will be based on the promising anti-missile Aster 30 Block 1NT, the development of which has been underway since 2015, and the improved Ground Fire 300 radar should be used to detect targets.

It is assumed that the SAMP/T NG will be able to shoot down air targets at a distance of up to 150 kilometers (the list of air targets includes, in particular, ballistic missiles with a firing range of up to 600 kilometers), the target detection range is declared at a distance of up to 350 kilometers. It is currently planned that the first fire tests of the SAMP/T NG should take place in October next year.

The battery should include six launchers for 8 anti-aircraft missiles each, one radar and one control module.