A joint French and Italian crew March 6 operating two French Air Force Surface-To-Air-Missile Platform/Terrain (SAMP/T) units successfully scored in a test against a ballistic missile threat, for the first time using Link 16 in a NATO Environment.
The system is manufactured by Eurosam, a European consortium consisting of MBDA France and MBDA Italy with a total of 66 percent, and Thales Group with 33 percent.
This was the third SAMP/T test firing against a ballistic threat test and the second time conducted by an operational crew. As in previous tests in southwest France in October 2010 and November 2011, the air launched target was representative of a 300-km range theater ballistic missile (TBM)threat.
This was the first SAMP/T firing using Link 16 for data links with the higher echelons.
Additionally, the previous tests were conducted in a French-specific environment, wholly controlled by the French Air Force and DGA. This one called for the first SAMP/T firing test in a NATO environment, close to an operational use for an anti-TBM mission under the alliance Active Layered Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD) program.
The NATO Ballistic Missile Defense Operational Center (BMOC) in Ramstein, Germany, was kept in the loop via the Link 16 network.
The combination French-Italian air force crew continues the long cooperation between the two nations developing, building testing and fielding SAMP/T.
DGA–French procurement agency–sensors provided the firing units and the command levels’ long-range detection data on a Link 16 radio network. DGA acted as a Link 16 national command and control, interfacing with the NATO BMCOC and with SAMP/T.
Once the target was acquired by the Arabel multi-function radars of the two SAMP/T units, the test moved forward as planned. One of the SAMP/T units was selected and the ASTER 30 B1 missile fired scored a direct hit against the ballistic target.
It was the second direct hit in two ATBM test firings by the SAMP/T end user. It is also the 13th SAMP/T firing success in a row, an uninterrupted series since system qualification firings started back in 2005, followed by operational forces firings began in 2008.
SAMP/T is the only non-U.S. built long-range air defense system contributing to the NATO Alliance capability against ballistic threats. French and Italian governments have committed to contribute to NATO ATBM defense with SAMP/T systems. NATO, Italian and French high-level representatives witnessed the test in CELM–the French center of military and aviation testing, as well as NATO personnel in Ramstein, thanks to the L16 data exchange.
Eurosam has delivered 14 units to Italy and France, including two First of Class units.
France will deploy 10 SAMP/T in five air defense squadrons, four of which are currently equipped or being equipped. The Italian Army will regroup five SAMP/T units in one Regiment with four already delivered.