Denmark has signed the first export contract for the European SAMP/T NG long-range air and missile defence system.
Denmark becomes the third nation to operate the SAMP/T NG, joining France and Italy.
Denmark has signed the first export contract for the European SAMP/T NG long-range air and missile defence system.
The agreement, announced by Thales on 21 April 2026, will see Denmark become the third country, after France and Italy, to join the SAMP/T NG user community.
The SAMP/T NG system is a mobile surface-to-air defence solution designed to safeguard critical locations and deployed units from missile and aircraft threats. It is intended to replace previous generations of medium-range ground-based air defence systems.
The Danish configuration of the SAMP/T NG is set to use the Ground Fire 300 radar. It features a fully digital active electronically scanned array (AESA) designed for detecting, tracking, and classifying a variety of airborne objects in various operational environments.
The radar supports a surveillance range of up to 400km, incorporates 360-degree coverage, and can track diverse targets simultaneously.
Thales will serve as the system integrator for the fire control system of the Danish SAMP/T NG, providing the ME-NG (Next Generation Engagement Module) developed in cooperation with MBDA.
The ME-NG command and control system offers an open architecture, supporting integration with other European air defence assets.
Production of the Ground Fire radar began in early 2025 and it has already completed a qualification firing as part of the French SAMP/T NG system.
Deliveries to Denmark are scheduled to commence in 2028.
The overall SAMP/T NG programme is managed by the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement (OCCAR). The prime contractor for the overall system is eurosam, a joint venture comprising Thales and MBDA.
Thales land and air systems executive vice-president Hervé Dammann said: “Thales, together with eurosam and MBDA, is honoured by the trust placed in it by the Danish authorities.
“The SAMP/T NG is the most advanced mobile ground-to-air defence system, designed to ensure the protection of Danish airspace and to make a decisive contribution to the defence of European nations and Nato.”
The SAMP/T NG system forms a central component of SkyDefender, Thales’ multi-layered integrated air and missile defence system.
Launched last month, SkyDefender incorporates Thales’s cybersecurity measures and AI technology, including solutions powered by cortAIx, to address a range of air threats across land, maritime and space environments.
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