France Orders 4 Additional SAMP/T NG Air and Missile Defence Systems

October 26, 2026

MBDA, alongside its partner Thales, is proud to announce that the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), acting on behalf of French government, has awarded eurosam a contract to produce four additional firing units of the SAMP/T NG air defence system. This order brings the total number of SAMP/T NG systems ordered by France to 12.

The SAMP/T NG firing units will be delivered to the French Air and Space Force in a multi-layer ASTER / VL MICA configuration, enhancing the country's air and missile defence capabilities. This order marks a significant step towards the renewal of European long-range air and missile defence ground capabilities.

MBDA and Thales, as key members of eurosam, will continue to lead the way in developing state-of-the-art and sovereign air defence systems for the benefit of European defence.

Advanced Capabilities of the SAMP/T NG System
The SAMP/T NG system, developed through a cooperation between Italy and France, is designed to manage the munitions of the Aster family (Aster 30 B1 and Aster B1NT). It offers a multilayer capability by integrating and coordinating SHORAD and V-SHORAD assets, providing comprehensive protection against a wide range of threats.

Key capabilities of the SAMP/T NG system include:

• Full integration into national and NATO air defence networks
• Quick deployment with a limited number of personnel for 360° protection to armed forces, dense civilian environments, and sensitive military sites
• Simultaneous defeat of all types of threats in any combination
• Countering emerging and future threats such as manoeuvring ballistic missiles, re-entry vehicle ballistic missiles, high-speed tactical missiles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and highly manoeuvring aircraft in saturating attack scenarios and challenging cyber environments
• Cooperation with allied military aircraft

These advanced air defence systems are crucial in the current global context to respond to increasingly challenging threats.

Source : MBDA