The SAMP/T New Generation long-range air and missile defence system has completed two successful live firing trials in France and Italy.
Eurosam said the firings took place on 3 December at the PISQ test range in Sardinia using the Italian variant of the system, and on 15 December at the DGA Essais de Missiles range in Biscarrosse with the French configuration. Both tests involved the full SAMP/T NG system architecture, including the engagement module, sensor radar and launchers operating as an integrated system.
The trials followed earlier ASTER B1NT missile firings in October 2024 and July 2025, which confirmed the system’s extended-range capability. The latest tests were intended to demonstrate the system’s ability to intercept complex aerial and missile threats, including targets presenting challenges in range, speed, manoeuvrability and low observability.
SAMP/T NG is being developed under the long-standing FSAF-PAAMS air defence cooperation framework, managed by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation on behalf of France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The programme forms a central part of European efforts to strengthen long-range surface-based air and missile defence.
The system has already been ordered by France and Italy to equip the French Air and Space Force, the Italian Army and the Italian Air Force. Initial deliveries are scheduled for early 2026, when the first systems will enter operational evaluation.
Interest in SAMP/T NG has also widened beyond the original partner nations. In September 2025, Denmark selected the French variant of the system as the basis for its future long-range surface-based air and missile defence capability.
Would it be worth the UK getting involved in this?
Sorry didnt read the article properly (had a few off to the Cardiff v Chelsea game) the UK is part of it apparently, unless i misred again.
I think we are only involved from an aster missile perspective as they are used in the t45, rather than any interest in investing in it for ground based defence purposes.
Would be worth a UK purchase.
Deploy them to Cyprus, Lossiemouth and the northern radar sites as a minimum.
First I hear of this UK participation. The article mentions UK participation, but I don’t know what that entails. Confusing statement because SAMP/T and Aster are designed/made by joint venture Eurosam (MBDA France, MBDA Italy and Thales France) which the UK is not part of, furthermore UK does not even operate any SAMP/T systems. On top of that, the UK seems to be moving away from Aster since it has developped a competing product to Aster 15 called CAMM and is using Mk41 VLS for its future frigates, Type 26 and Type 31, instead of Sylver VLS.
CAMM is not really an alternative to ASTER, more an alternative to MICA/IRIS-T missile.
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ASTER 15 is a much more potent/deadly missile than CAMM.
Nah, the UK is still invested in the Aster. They’re trending towards integrating it into the Mk41, alongside the less capable CAMM to fill other roles.
The current Sylver VLS is quite limited, but the A70-NG is realistically where the UK should have gone. Unfortunately, it wasn’t ready in time.
Well HiLo mix is needed.
Nosing can afford £2m earshots against £200k systems…that is the CAMM niche.
We also need an even cheaper variant @ £20k.
You cannot get a missile for 20k
Well you can in volume production if you use a dynamic fill synthesis….and simple guidance….never mind…
Well there’s stuff like martlet but it’s too simplistic for dynamic launching like VLS, which affects how many can be carried
Why should we go for A70 NG, when Mk41 can in theory take any weapon
Well, in theory, A70 NG should also be able to take any weapon. At the same time, there’d be no issue getting the Aster integrated.
Hopefully they improve the footprint for it though
Yeah, hopefully. Space efficiency isn’t currently Sylver’s strong suit
Talk about a bleedin’ obvious pick, the UK should buy some for it’s own GBAD! If it’s good enough for Framce, Italy, Denmark and been successful in Ukraine it should be good enough for the UK. And if same missile stocks as the Navy then can be part of the same pool. Can compliment CAMM and whatever else.
Given that it appears to work I presume there is no danger of our buying it anytime soon.?
Be good if SAMP/T could even utilise CAMM /CAMM-MR as well in a mixed battery if it was ever required. Not sure how different the Viper system is to the land system but if CAMMvl and Aster can be done on the T45s then it should be doable on land too.
And with the UK’s relationship Norway would a purchase of NASAM’s be worth considering especially if lots of stocks of mixed missiles lying around?
The Aster according to MBDA has had a Mk41 test fit. But I believe it was completely model based, rather than a physical test fit. Nobody so far has stumped up the cash for a full integration. If the RN wants to stay with Aster rather going down the US path, then it will have to pay for the integration costs, especially when it comes to the T83. The T26 and T31 should be slightly easier, as I reckon they will only have variants of CAMM. Due to the ease of quad or dual packaging CAMM.
That or the T83 has mk41 and Sylver VLS. Is there any barrier to doing so?
Well Slyver is far less compact than Mk41 for one thing, and last time we tried 2 expensive vls one got cancelled
Could the T83 then have a Slyver/mk41 mix? Read recently somewhere that the French Naval Group are developing a vls silo for CAMM as part of their Frigate bid for Sweden. Like to see the UK manufacturer of the 6 CAMM silo develop this maybe into a 8, 9 or 12 silo for the same space footprint.
Serious question: can anyone enlighten me as to whether there is any serious thinking/intent to equip the UK with a meaningful layered GBAD system?
I ask as we are now nearly 4 years into the invasion of Ukraine, and it would be good to know that lessons are being learned.
Yes, ongoing 10 year program to develop a layered GBAD system. Sky Sabre is one part of it. Other parts are being developed, along with the system to integrate it. Hopefully the long anticipated equipment plan will shed more light.
You got to wonder why its taking the UK 10 years when France and Itsly seem to be running with this already? Time is a luxury and they should really be more GBAD assets in the field already. UK bases, ports, key infrastructure don’t seem to have anything deployed besides Starstreak, LMM and CAMM for the Army.
Search for Land Ground Based Air Defence program.