- Category
- War in Ukraine
France Unveils Upgraded SAMP/T Air Defense: New Radar and Enhanced Missiles, Could It Help Ukraine?
France is rolling out a powerful new radar for its latest variant of the SAMP/T air defense system—capable of tracking up to 1,000 targets at once. Could it one day replace Ukraine’s current air defense arsenal?
- Authors
![Jessica_daly]( "Jess Daly")
-46f6afa2f66d31ff3df8ea1a8f5524ec.jpg "Jess Daly")
The Ground Fire (GF) 300 MRI , will be integrated into the new SAMP/T NG air defense system, set to enter service in 2026, dramatically improving performance against aerial and ballistic threats.
Thales, a France-based aerospace and defense giant, successfully completed its final factory acceptance tests of the radar on March 19, announced the European Intergovernmental Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).
Ukraine currently has the earlier variant of the SAMP/T system in its arsenal. Though it has seen some success against Russian aircraft, several limitations in its performance and production rates have also existed. The SAMP/T system, with its new GF300 radar, is set to vastly improve these drawbacks.
What can the new Ground Fire 300 radar do?
The GF300 is an Integrated Air and Missile defence system. It can detect any air and missile threat, including autonomous ballistic missile (BM) detection, and support missile guidance for engagements against them over 360° in a rotating mode, said its developer, Thales .
The GF300 has a detection range of 400km and is built with a 4D radar that features an active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna, which can track up to 1,000 targets simultaneously.
It features Element Level Digital Beamforming using Doppler processing to see even the smallest threat in severe clutter, while its weapon location capability can be used for Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) operation.
The radar is software-defined, therefore, armed forces have the capability to adapt to changing mission environments and threats throughout their lifetime.
The GF 300 is easily transportable by road, rail, and tactical aircraft. When mounted on a truck, it also features a short encampment of less than 15 minutes and a short decampment of less than 10 minutes for fast tactical deployment.
Its antenna operates in two modes: rotating for full coverage or focusing on a specific area. This rotation capability eliminated blind spots seen in older American Patriot radars, reported Defense Express further adding that there is a significant contrast between the GF300 and the existing SAMP/T system’s Arabel radar, currently being used in Ukraine.
How does the new SAMP/T NG system compare to the SAMP/T system currently used in Ukraine?
The Arabel radar in the SAMP/T system, while also having 360-degree coverage, can track up to 100 targets simultaneously, compared to the GF300 in the SAMP/T NG tracking up to 1000, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Defense Project.
France has integrated the GF300 with the Aster-30 Block 1 NT missile. The Aster-30 Block 1 is used in Ukraine, but Defense Express highlighted that the missile NT upgraded variant incorporates a new seeker, modernized electronic suite, and enhanced interception capabilities against ballistic threats.
The Aster-30 Block 1 NT missile has a strike range of 150km against aircraft, whereas the current SAMP/T system, when using the Aster-30 Block 1 missile, has a range of around 120km.
How has the SAMP/T performed in Ukraine?
SAMP/T systems have reportedly had performance limitations compared to American-made Patriot batteries. It has faced challenges in identifying and intercepting incoming Russian missiles during large-scale attacks, however, the new GF300 radar sets to eliminate these reported drawbacks.
Even with the drawbacks, the SAMP/T system recently successfully shot down a Russian Sukhoi aircraft, Yuriy Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command, announced at “Defense Talks: The Sky without GBU” on March 11, without providing further details.
After the successful strike, Russian forces adjusted their tactics to target Ukrainian air defense systems, including the Patriot, said Ihnat.
Due to production rates, Ukraine has been recently running low on stock of the current Aster-30 missiles for the SAMP/T. Ukraine urgently requested additional Aster-30 missiles for its SAMP/T system as its existing stockpiles are nearly exhausted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported improvements in ammunition supplies for European air defense systems and artillery during his evening address on March 16.
“Just now, Defense Minister Umerov reported to me on the fulfillment of tasks related to air defense—missiles for IRIS-T, NASAMS, and SAMP/T,” Zelenskyy said. “There are good results in securing artillery contracts—additional shells will be provided for our army.”
Will Ukraine receive the Ground Fire 300 radar and SAMP/T NG system?
The Aster SAMP/T NG system is developed by MBDA, the British division of Europe's largest missile producer and pan-European missile systems company. MDBA also developed the SAMP/T system in cooperation with Thales.
France-based Thales developed the Ground Fire 300 radar, and it’s the French who will see the system integrated into their military first.
Both Thales and MDBA have already supplied weaponry to Ukraine in the past. The most notable MDBA system is the British-Franco SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile.
MDBA Chief Executive Officer Éric Béranger expects their production of the SCALP-EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile and Exocet anti-ship weapon to double in 2025.“We have all the technological capabilities that we need,” Béranger said when discussing Russia’s war on Ukraine and the supply of weaponry. “We have the brains, which means that it is really a matter of what we want to do in Europe, what position we want to reach. This is the reason why the moment is absolutely historic.”
Thales has supplied a short-range air defense system, including a Ground Master 200 radar, a command-and-control center, a radio communications system, air target designators, and more, to help protect Ukraine.
Both the UK and France have supported Ukraine’s defense efforts in many ways, from arms deliveries to the recent summits with European leaders regarding bringing peace to Ukraine.Europe held a recent emergency summit in Élysée Palace in Paris to “step up” defense. France’s President Emmanuel Macron and the UK’s Prime Minister Kier Starmer co-led the summit.
“The international composition of the meeting highlights the extent to which France and the United Kingdom are seeking broad support for a coalition of states that would ensure Ukraine’s security should active hostilities cease,” a French diplomat told Sky News.
The support from both the UK and French governments has been extensive, along with the shipment and supply of weapons from Thales and MDBA. Though there has not yet been any confirmation of delivery of the latest Aster SAMP/T NG and Ground Fire 300 radar systems for Ukraine, receiving them could be possible in the future.
-77cf0a1e23b793fd430ddab3310b5a8a.png)
-af104f9a14a9a5e98651789bf0453877.jpg)
-5a646718cae8d76c7457deaec7ce37b2.jpg "Daniel Kosoy")
-47847f6fece9bc736ad556f69e2a1d65.jpg)