During his speech at the 54th Paris Air Show 2023, which began yesterday, June 19, French President Emmanuel Macron officially announced for the first time that Ukraine has already received and deployed the French-Italian SAMP/T SAM system. This was reported by Le Monde.
As President Macron noted, this SAM system is "deployed and functioning in Ukraine, where it protects key objects and people's lives." Thus, we can now state the fact that the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in addition to the American Patriot SAM systems, already has another means against the extremely complex targets that the Russians are launching over Ukraine - primarily ballistic missiles.
Read more: Confirmed: Ukrainian Air Force Shoots Down Kh-47 Kinzhal Missile, Ruining the Myth About the russian "Unparalleled" Hypersonic Weapon
In particular, the SAMP/T SAM system to destroy enemy ballistic missiles works on the same Hit-to-Kill principle as the Patriot air defense system, when the target is destroyed by a kinetic interceptor using the release of kinetic energy during a collision, which allows guaranteed destruction of the warhead of the ballistic missile.
We will remind that the transfer of the SAMP/T SAM system was agreed upon at the end of January 2023 by defense ministers of France and Italy. Ukrainian units went to training on February 5 and they completed mastering this air defense system by the end of March, 2023. Earlier, the French Ministry of Defense also emphasized that together with the SAM system, the GM200 radar station by Thales will also be delivered to Ukraine.
The SAMP/T surface-to-air defense missile system, also known as Mamba, is a theatre antimissile system designed to protect the battlefield and sensitive tactical sites (such as airports and sea ports) against all current and future airborne threats, including cruise missiles, manned and unmanned aircraft and tactical ballistic missiles in the 600 km range class.
The system can destroy aircraft at a distance of 100+ km, as well as ballistic targets with the Aster 30 missile at a distance of up to 30-35 km and an altitude of up to 20 km. One SAM launcher has eight missiles that can be fired in 10 seconds, while the SAMP/T battery can simultaneously intercept up to 16 targets.
It should be noted that Ukraine need to strengthen its air and missile defense as russia continue to terrorize civilians with massive missile attacks.
As Defense Express reported, French-Italian SAMP/T ADS Together with Patriot Will Shoot Down russian Missiles Including Kh-47 Kinzhal. We also wrote, that Italy Had Sent to Ukraine Not Only the SAMP/T SAM, but PzH 2000 and M109 SPG for Near Dozen Batteries.
Read more: russian Missile Terrorism in Figures: How Kremlin Tries to Create the "Ukraine on Fire" Image With Continuous Attacks
