Denmark selects SAMP/T NG for ground-to-air defence system

Denmark officially becomes the third country after France and Italy to join the SAMP/T NG community. The system includes a Thales Ground Fire radar, which in series production since early 2025, recently demonstrated outstanding performance during a qualification firing of the French version of the SAMP/T NG system. Thales contributed to the success of the French variant of SAMP/T NG, the European air defence system based on Thales’s Ground Fire radar. This first export contract includes the supply of SAMP/T NG sections, which are scheduled to be delivered from 2028. SAMP/T NG is at the core of SkyDefender, the multi-layer, multi-domain Integrated Air and Missile Defence system launched by Thales. Combining Thales’ expertise in cybersecurity and advanced artificial intelligence through cortAIx, Thales AI accelerator, SkyDefender provides full protection against all types of air threats, on land, at sea and in space. Natively designed to maximise the performance of the Aster missile family (A30 B1 and A30 B1NT) for which Thales supplies the homing seeker, a critical component in missile guidance, the Danish section of the SAMP/T NG will be equipped with the Ground Fire 300 radar. Based on fully digital active electronically scanned antenna (AESA) technology, the Ground Fire radar delivers outstanding performance in detecting, tracking and classifying multiple targets in the most challenging environments, including maritime and mountainous terrain, high-density traffic, and heavily jammed conditions. This multifunction radar provides a refresh rate of just one second and a surveillance range of up to 400 km, with full 360° panoramic coverage and 90° elevation. It can simultaneously detect and track a wide spectrum of threats – from drones and fighter aircraft to ballistic missiles – while retaining the mobility expected of a tactical radar. Thales also acts as the system integrator of the fire control system of the SAMP/T NG and supplies of the “brain” of the system (the command, control and fire control system: the ME-NG – Next Generation Engagement Module), developed in partnership with MBDA. The open ME-NG architecture of the SAMP/T NG system facilitates seamless integration and interoperability with other European systems, thereby strengthening the continent’s air defence capabilities. The Ground Fire radar and ME-NG module ensure strategic autonomy while maintaining a high level of operational readiness. Their design enables exceptional mobility, a critical factor for system survivability in operational theatres, with deployment and redeployment times among the fastest in their category. The SAMP/T NG and its Ground Fire radar fully benefit from operational feedback from SAMP/T deployments in France and Italy, including real combat conditions. Denmark will benefit from the increased production capacity for the SAMP/T NG system and the production of Aster missiles, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028. The SAMP/T NG programme is overseen by the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement (OCCAR). eurosam, a joint venture between Thales and MBDA, serves as the prime contractor for the overall system. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]