The Government prepares the 13th aid package for Ukraine: focus on the SAMP/T NG system

The Government is working on the 13th aid package for Ukraine. The protagonist of this new tranche could be the new generation Samp/T.

The SAMP/T NG (acronym for “Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain New Generation”) is the new generation version of the surface-to-air defense missile system developed by the European Eurosam consortium (made up of MBDA Italy, MBDA France and Thales) on behalf of the Italian and French armed forces. It is a medium-range system that can also be used against ballistic missiles (Medium Range Air Defense and Ballistic Missile Defense), the result of decades-long Italian-French cooperation in which the previous version of the SAMP/T was also created.

Developed under a program launched in 2021, the SAMP/T NG's ability to intercept missiles takes a further step forward thanks to the new Aster B1NT missile, which has a range of over 150 km, and Leonardo's Kronos grand mobile high power radar which guarantees threat detection over 350 km away, thus increasing the protection of the armed forces from modern air and missile threats, including ballistic targets.

The new generation SAMP/T is designed to operate in very high saturation environments and resist strong electronic interference (so-called "jamming"), simultaneously tracking and engaging dozens of different targets: ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic aircraft, stealth fighters and swarms of drones.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday 8 September the European Union found the right solution and finally authorized the use of the funds provided through the 90 billion community loan for the purchase of Patriot interceptor missiles (3.2 billion are on the way). “Italy will continue to do its part,” promised the Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto. And the new aid package will be yet another test case.