Profile
- Type
- Mobile long-range surface-to-air missile system
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Origin
- France / Italy
- Service note
- Operational from the 2010s; supplied to Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine War
Air Defense
SAMP/T
SAMP/T, also known as MAMBA in French service, is a Franco-Italian truck-mounted air and missile defense system built around Aster interceptors, a multifunction radar, and battery command-and-control modules. In Ukrainian service it fills a scarce long-range air-defense role against Russian aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and some ballistic-missile threats.
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Built by
- Eurosam (MBDA / Thales)
Service History
- In service
- French operational service from 2010; Italian service from the early 2010s; supplied to Ukraine from 2023
- Used by
- Ukrainian Armed Forces, French Air and Space Force, Italian Armed Forces
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designer
- Eurosam
- Designed
- 1990s-2000s development period
- Built by
- Eurosam (MBDA / Thales)
- Unit cost
- Not publicly standardized by battery
- Produced
- 1990s-present, with SAMP/T NG deliveries planned from 2026
- Number built
- Multiple batteries in French, Italian, Singaporean, and Ukrainian service
- Variants
- SAMP/T MAMBA, SAMP/T NG
Specifications
- Interceptor
- Aster 30 family surface-to-air missiles
- Battery layout
- Multifunction radar, engagement module, and up to six launchers
- Launcher capacity
- Eight ready-to-fire missiles per launcher; up to 48 missiles per battery in SAMP/T NG configuration
- Coverage
- 360-degree vertical-launch engagement geometry
- Engagement capability
- Can track large target sets and engage multiple aircraft or missile threats simultaneously
- Mobility
- Truck-mounted modules on road-mobile prime movers; designed for rapid deployment and NATO-network integration
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Ukraine
Ukraine fields French-Italian SAMP/T MAMBA batteries supplied for long-range air defense against Russian aircraft, missiles, and drones; Italy also announced delivery of an additional battery in September 2024.
SAMP/T Images
Related Weapon Systems
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9K33 OsaShort-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile systemThe 9K33 Osa, NATO reporting name SA-8 Gecko, is a Soviet short-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile system that combines search radar, tracking radar, command guidance, and ready-to-fire missiles on a single amphibious 6x6 TELAR. In the Russia-Ukraine War it appears on both sides of the air-defense fight, including Ukrainian systems reinforced by Polish-supplied Osa vehicles and visually documented Russian losses.
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AspideMedium-range surface-to-air missileAspide is an Italian semi-active radar guided missile family used in air-to-air and surface-to-air roles, including SPADA and Skyguard ground-based air defense systems. In the Russia-Ukraine War, Spain transferred an Aspide anti-aircraft missile battery and trained Ukrainian personnel to add another Western medium-range layer to Ukraine's air defense network.
CrotaleShort-range surface-to-air missile systemCrotale is a French short-range surface-to-air missile family built around radar and electro-optical target tracking. The Crotale NG variant paired the VT-1 missile with an integrated launcher, search radar, tracking radar, and optical sensors, making it useful for point defense of forces and fixed sites against low-altitude air threats. France supplied Crotale NG systems to Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine War to reinforce layered air defense against Russian missiles, aircraft, helicopters, and drones.Sources
Ground Systems: SAMP/T NGPublisher: Eurosam | Note: Supports Eurosam manufacturer background, battery composition, radar, launcher capacity, mobility, and SAMP/T NG performance context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20SAMP/T NGPublisher: MBDA | Note: Supports system role, Aster missile guidance context, vertical-launch architecture, and French-Italian replacement/upgrade background. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Systeme sol-air moyenne portee SAMP MambaPublisher: Ministere des Armees | Note: Supports French service background and public characteristics for the SAMP Mamba system. | Accessed: 2026-06-20France, Italy finalize discussions on delivery of SAMP/T-MAMBA missile system to UkrainePublisher: Anadolu Agency | Note: Directly supports the France-Italy transfer of SAMP/T MAMBA to Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine War. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Italy to deliver promised SAMP/T air defense system by end of SeptemberPublisher: The Kyiv Independent | Note: Supports direct conflict-use for Russia-Ukraine War by documenting an additional SAMP/T battery to be delivered to Ukraine and the Ukrainian need for long-range air defense during Russian missile and drone attacks. | Accessed: 2026-06-20MAMBA system in RomaniaPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain U.S. military image provenance for the primary SAMP/T MAMBA image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Air Defence Squadron Tursan Bastille Day 2013 ParisPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the gallery view of a French SAMP/T MAMBA launcher. | Accessed: 2026-06-20