France to Deliver Next-Generation SAMP/T NG Air Defense Systems to Ukraine
France is set to deliver the first next-generation SAMP/T NG air defense system to Ukraine in 2026.
The Gaze informs about it, referring to Thales, one of the system’s core developers.
SAMP/T NG will formally enter service with the armed forces of France and Italy in 2026. Once operational, the first systems are expected to be deployed to Ukraine within the same year, according to analysts tracking French military assistance.
The assessment is based on the successful completion of the first qualification firing tests of the French SAMP/T NG variant in December 2025.
In addition, Thales has confirmed that serial production of the upgraded system will begin in 2026, alongside the rollout of its new Ground Fire radar.
French President Emmanuel Macron previously stated that Ukraine would be the primary recipient of the system once development was finalized.
Under a bilateral defense agreement signed in November, Ukraine is expected to receive a total of eight SAMP/T NG systems. Each system includes six launchers, bringing the planned total to 48 launchers for Ukraine’s Air Force.
The agreement is designed to span ten years and goes beyond air defense deliveries, encompassing joint projects in the development, procurement, and production of drones, interceptor systems, and guided aerial munitions.
The SAMP/T system currently forms a core element of French and Italian air defense architectures. The NG variant introduces enhanced radar performance, improved interception capabilities, and greater resilience against advanced aerial threats.
As The Gaze reported earlier, at the military air base in Velizy-Villacoublay, France, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a letter of intent with France to obtain 100 Rafale warplanes over the next 10 years.
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