Italian Army Receives First SAMP/T NG Air Defense Systems for Modernization Efforts
The Italian Army has received its first SAMP/T NG (New Generation) and GRIFO air defense systems, marking the start of a modernization initiative aimed at creating a layered air and missile defense network. The SAMP/T NG systems, produced by the EUROSAM joint venture, feature enhanced interception capabilities and utilize the Aster B1NT interceptor with a range exceeding 150 kilometers.
The accompanying Kronos Grand Mobile High Power radar can detect targets beyond 350 kilometers. Italy plans to deploy six SAMP/T NG batteries and nine GRIFO systems, which are designed for short-range defense and utilize the CAMM ER missile. This deployment is part of a broader effort to strengthen NATO-integrated air defense, with implications for Ukraine, which is set to receive SAMP/T NG systems under a bilateral agreement with France.
