France has carried out the first operational test firing of the SAMP/T NG air and missile defense system, marking a major milestone in the program’s development and validating its next-generation engagement architecture and Ground Fire radar. With deliveries planned for 2026, the system is poised to become a cornerstone of European medium- and long-range air defense, with potential future relevance for Ukraine’s air defense requirements.
Thales confirmed that the live-fire test took place at the Biscarrosse missile test range, overseen by France’s DGA, and demonstrated the successful integration of the upgraded engagement module with the new radar. The company highlighted SAMP/T NG as Europe’s sole domestically developed alternative in its class, designed to counter advanced threats including ballistic missiles, maneuvering targets, and high-density attack scenarios. Commissioning of the system is scheduled to begin in 2026 for France and Italy.
Designed for mobility and survivability, SAMP/T NG batteries can defend a city-scale area or critical infrastructure while rapidly redeploying after firing. At the core of the system is a fully digital command-and-control module capable of operating independently or within a coordinated, networked air defense framework. Each battery typically manages up to six vertical launchers, armed with Aster 30 interceptors, enabling deep engagement capacity during complex raids.
The system’s most significant upgrade is the Ground Fire fully digital AESA radar, offering continuous 360-degree coverage, extended elevation, and a surveillance range of up to 400 km, refreshed every second. Optimized for contested electromagnetic environments, the radar supports detection of drones, terrain-hugging aircraft, and ballistic threats. The interceptor suite is based on MBDA’s Aster Block 1 NT missile, which uses inertial navigation with mid-course guidance, an active terminal seeker, and a PIF-PAF thrust-vector control system, delivering high-end maneuverability and engagement ranges exceeding 150 km, with integrated anti-tactical ballistic missile capability.
