European defense giant Thales reported strong financial results last year, posting a record order intake of €25.3 billion. During the annual results conference, Chairman and CEO Patrice Caine described the upgraded SAMP/T NG air defense system as an "innovative success." He emphasized its importance in expanding production capacity and positioning the company amid Europe's accelerating rearmament, stating that the system is "reshaping the air defense landscape."
According to a transcript published by investing.com, Caine characterized the SAMP/T NG surface-to-air missile system, developed jointly with MBDA through the Eurosam consortium, as "the most advanced air defense system in the world." He stated that it can defend not only against aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles, but also against ballistic and hypersonic threats.
Read more: Ukraine Was Promised Eight SAMP/T NG Systems Available in Two Versions: Which Variant Will Be Delivered?
"With SAMP/T NG, we have effectively broken a long-standing monopoly," Caine said, apparently referring to competition with the U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot and to Denmark's decision to select SAMP/T over the American alternative. He also expressed confidence in the export prospects of SAMP/T NG.
Thales directly compares SAMP/T NG with Patriot, arguing that the European system's key advantage lies in delivery timelines. According to the company, SAMP/T NG could be delivered in the 2028–2030 timeframe for contracts signed in the coming months, while Patriot systems reportedly require significantly longer waiting periods.
For example, when Switzerland reconsidered its Patriot procurement due to extended delivery schedules, Thales publicly suggested that SAMP/T NG could be supplied sooner.
From the Defense Express perspective, SAMP/T NG is indeed the newest iteration of the system. The first units were delivered this year, first to Italy and then to France. The updated version is also expected to be supplied to Ukraine, which has reportedly been promised eight SAMP/T NG systems.
At the same time, SAMP/T NG has yet to undergo combat testing in Ukraine. The upgraded version is specifically intended to provide reliable interception of ballistic missiles, an area where the previous configuration reportedly faced limitations. Until SAMP/T NG is tested under real combat conditions, direct comparisons with Patriot in countering russian ballistic missiles would be premature. French officials have previously claimed that their SAMP/T systems performed better in Ukraine than Patriot, but comprehensive data has not been made public.
A meaningful comparison between the two systems would require verified interception rates, ideally broken down by specific missile types, including complex targets such as Kinzhal and Zircon. Such data is not available in the public domain for understandable reasons.
When assessing any air defense system, interceptor availability is another critical factor. Media reports have repeatedly highlighted shortages of Patriot interceptors, a situation that may worsen following their extensive use in countering Iranian attacks. However, SAMP/T systems face similar constraints in missile supply.
Previously, Defense Express examined whether it is currently possible to acquire an effective defense against systems such as Iskander-M or Kinzhal for €1 billion.
Read more: Italy Preparing 12th Military Aid Package for Ukraine — Focus on Ammunition and SAMP/T Missiles
