Italy, France Preparing to Deliver SAMP-T Air Defense System to Ukraine

Ukraine is set to welcome its most advanced air defense system (ADS) as Italy and France, which jointly manufacture the SAMP-T air defense system (ADS) are preparing to ship the first such system to Kyiv.

“In cooperation with France, we are finalizing the shipment of SAMP/T, and in addition, other actions are planned that we do not disclose,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said during an interview with local newspaper Corriere della Sera.

The SAMP-T together with the American Patriot, are the only two ADS capable of defeating advanced Russian missiles such as the X-32. Launched from long-range bombers such as the Tu-160, the X-32 cruise missile has gone on almost unchallenged in attacking Ukrainian infrastructure and military targets.

Italy has already provided Ukraine with five packages of military aid worth about €1 billion. The SAMP/T will be part of Italy’s sixth package.

SAMP/T is is a theatre anti-missile system manufactured by Eurosam, a 50:50 joint venture between MBDA and Thales. It uses Aster 30 missile to strike targets 40 km away.

The system is designed to provide air protection for mechanized units, as well as air cover for important stationary facilities from a massive attack by a wide class of air targets.

Each self-propelled launcher of the system is based on the Astra/Iveco vehicle chassis or Renault-TRM-10000 and is equipped with 8 Aster-30 interceptor missiles in transport and launch containers, which are transferred to an upright position before launch.

The system also includes a multi-function Thompson-CSF ARABEL radar with phased antenna arrays.

The Aster-30 missile has a launch weight of 510 kg, including a warhead weight of 20 kg, and a maximum flight speed of up to 1400 m/s. These characteristics allow the SAMP/T system to destroy enemy aircraft at a range of 3 to 100 km, and ballistic missiles at a range of 3 to 25 km. The fight altitude is up to 25 km. All 8 Aster-30 missiles can be fired in one salvo within just 10 seconds.