Denmark to receive first SAMP/T NG air-defense system in 2028

PARIS — Denmark will receive the French-Italian SAMP/T NG air-defense system starting in 2028 after orders were signed in the first quarter of this year, according to French defense firm Thales, which will supply the radar for the Danish system. The Danish version of the system will be equipped with the Thales Ground Fire 300 radar, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. The purchase officially makes Denmark the third country to join the club of SAMP/T NG clients, alongside France and Italy, Thales said. Denmark in September picked the SAMP/T system over the American-made Patriot. That decision looks increasingly fortuitous after the United States government flagged possible delays linked to the Iran war in deliveries of weapons and ammunition to the Baltic countries, and after Switzerland said in March it faces delays in Patriot deliveries of four to five years. “Denmark will benefit from the increased production capacity for the SAMP/T NG system and the production of Aster missiles, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028,” Thales said. Missile maker MBDA plans to double production of the Aster family of air-defense missiles in 2026 in response to surging demand. In addition to arming the ground-based SAMP/T system, the missiles are used for high-end air defense by the French, Italian and British navies. MBDA declined to comment on the timing of delivering Aster missiles to Denmark. Thales recorded the Danish SAMP/T contract as one of its “large orders” with a value…