Aid to Ukraine: following the EU’s approval of the Patriot system, there is talk of a new-generation Samp T system
The new-generation Samp T is designed to operate in environments with extremely high signal saturation and to withstand severe electronic interference (so-called ‘jamming’)
Key points
The Government is working on the 13th aid package for Ukraine. The new-generation Samp/T could be the centrepiece of this latest tranche.
The new generation of the surface-to-air missile defence system
The SAMP/T NG (an acronym for ‘Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain New Generation’) is the next-generation version of the surface-to-air missile defence system developed by the European consortium Eurosam (comprising MBDA Italia, MBDA France and Thales) on behalf of the Italian and French armed forces. It is a medium-range system that can also be deployed against ballistic missiles (Medium Range Air Defence and Ballistic Missile Defence), the result of decades of Italian-French cooperation, which also led to the development of the previous version of the SAMP/T.
Technological evolution
Developed as part of a programme launched in 2021, the SAMP/T NG’s missile interception capability 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 ensures threat detection at a distance of over 350 km, thereby enhancing the protection of the armed forces against modern air and missile threats, including ballistic targets.
Resistant to severe electronic interference
The new-generation SAMP/T is designed to operate in environments with extremely high signal density and to withstand severe electronic interference (known as ‘jamming’), whilst simultaneously tracking and engaging dozens of different targets: ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic aircraft, stealth fighters and swarms of drones.
The EU has released funds for the Patriot system
Meanwhile, on Tuesday 8 September, the European Union reached an agreement and finally authorised the use of funds provided through the 90 billion EU loan for the purchase of Patriot interceptor missiles (3.2 billion is on its way). “Italia will continue to play its part,” promised the Italian Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto. And the new aid package will be yet another test.
