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Apr 30 2026

Contract placement for an ASTER/MICA VL two-layer solution of the France variant of the SAMP/T NG system, with a view to strengthening the French Air Force ground-to-air defence capabilities.

Paris/France – 30 April 2026 - The Joint Organisation for Armaments Cooperation (OCCAR) notified, on behalf of France, EUROSAM of the SAMPT NG dual-layer contract on the 30th April 2026 to be able to use both Aster and MICA VL interceptors. Developed jointly with the French DGA, this contract will involve Thales, MBDA France and MBDA Italy.

This dual-layer contract aims at adding to the long range SAMPT NG* the capacity to coordinate directly several air defence layers, starting with the short range MICA VL system. This contract will allow to connect MICA VL launchers to the SAMPT NG and engage MICA VL missiles.

This integration of the short-range MICA VL missile capability in addition to the ASTER will allow to address threats in the most appropriate way by optimizing the missiles fired to face the different operational context. This dual-layer capability will provide an initial coherent multi-layer ground-to-air defence protection system. This new operational use requires evolutions of the engagement module of the SAMP/T NG currently under production for the French Air Force.

This enhanced capacity is intended to be scalable with the ability to integrate also very short-range systems in the future.

*OCCAR is managing the SAMPT NG programme for France and Italy to deliver this long-range Air Defence capability to the French Air Force, Italian Army and Air Force.

Paris/France – 30 April 2026 - The Joint Organisation for Armaments Cooperation (OCCAR) notified, on behalf of France, EUROSAM of the SAMPT NG dual-layer contract on the 30th April 2026 to be able to use both Aster and MICA VL interceptors. Developed jointly with the French DGA, this contract will involve Thales, MBDA France and MBDA Italy.

This dual-layer contract aims at adding to the long range SAMPT NG* the capacity to coordinate directly several air defence layers, starting with the short range MICA VL system. This contract will allow to connect MICA VL launchers to the SAMPT NG and engage MICA VL missiles.

This integration of the short-range MICA VL missile capability in addition to the ASTER will allow to address threats in the most appropriate way by optimizing the missiles fired to face the different operational context. This dual-layer capability will provide an initial coherent multi-layer ground-to-air defence protection system. This new operational use requires evolutions of the engagement module of the SAMP/T NG currently under production for the French Air Force.

This enhanced capacity is intended to be scalable with the ability to integrate also very short-range systems in the future.

*OCCAR is managing the SAMPT NG programme for France and Italy to deliver this long-range Air Defence capability to the French Air Force, Italian Army and Air Force.