Denmark has become the first export customer for the SAMP/T NG, Europe’s most advanced mobile air defense system. The system is capable of neutralizing a wide range of threats—from ballistic missiles to unmanned aerial vehicles—at a range of 400 kilometers. Planned for delivery starting in 2028, the system offers 360-degree panoramic coverage thanks to the Ground Fire 300 radar. This radar features fully digital AESA technology. As a result, this marks the beginning of a new era in Denmark’s strategic airspace protection.
A New Member of the European Air Defense Family
As the third country to join the SAMP/T NG community after France and Italy, Denmark has significantly raised the level of Scandinavian air defense capability with this decision. The program is carried out under the prime contractor Eurosam, a joint venture between Thales and MBDA. Moreover, it is coordinated by OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation). The contract also holds strategic importance as the system’s first export success outside of France and Italy.
Ground Fire 300: The Power of Digital Surveillance
At the heart of the SAMP/T NG system is the Thales-made Ground Fire 300 radar, based on fully digital Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology. Serial production of this radar began at the start of 2025, and it stands out with the following technical specifications:
- Range: Surveillance and tracking capability up to 400 kilometers.
- Coverage: 360° panoramic monitoring and 90° elevation angle.
- Speed: Multi-target tracking with a refresh rate of 1 second.
- Environmental Adaptability: Operational continuity in challenging terrains such as sea and mountainous areas, even under intense electronic jamming.
SkyDefender and Artificial Intelligence Integration
The system is at the center of Thales’ multi-layer, multi-domain integrated air defense structure under the “SkyDefender” concept. Equipped with Thales’ artificial intelligence accelerator called cortAIx, the system combines cybersecurity expertise and advanced AI to optimize decision-support processes against land, sea, and space-based threats.
Operational Mobility and Strategic Autonomy
SAMP/T NG has been developed to maximize the performance of the Aster family of missiles (Aster 30 B1 and Aster 30 B1NT). Featuring an open architecture thanks to the New Generation Engagement Module (ME-NG) developed jointly with MBDA, the system is fully compatible with other NATO and European air defense systems.
The system’s high mobility, which is critical for survivability on the battlefield, provides one of the fastest deployment times in its class. With deliveries to Denmark scheduled to begin in 2028, Europe’s collective air defense infrastructure will be reinforced from the northern direction.
Read more defence news
Source: C4Defence– Thales
