France orders four additional SAMP/T NG air defense systems

The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has ordered four additional sections of the SAMP/T NG (next-generation medium and long-range ground-based air defense system) for the French Air and Space Force. This new order brings the total number of these next-generation systems to twelve.

Developed by the EUROSAM consortium, which includes MBDA and Thales, the program aims to counter increasingly complex aerial threats, including drones, combat aircraft, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic missiles traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5. The SAMP/T NG features modernized fire control technology, including the latest generation GF30 radar from Thales, designed to support the Aster B1NT interceptor missile.

Ten of the twelve total systems are expected to be delivered by the end of 2030, following the delivery of the first system in early 2026. The program is intended to bolster European air defense capabilities against high-speed, maneuverable, and stealthy threats.