ZRK SAMP/T for Ukraine. Postponed indefinitely
ARABEL radar from the SAMP / T air defense system
In recent months, the Kyiv regime has been trying to beg modern anti-aircraft missile systems from foreign partners. His new goal in this context was to obtain the Franco-Italian SAMP / T system. Recently it became known that foreign countries considered the possibility of transferring such equipment - and were forced to refuse. The provision of such assistance is hampered by several characteristic factors at once.
Request and response
Another request for the provision of modern air defense systems was made at the end of October. This time, the Kyiv regime wishes to receive SAMP/T products. To this end, several of its high-ranking representatives immediately turned to Italy and France, which produce such equipment.
Already on October 30, the Italian edition of La Reppublica reported that foreign partners plan to respond to this request. From its sources in the Italian government, the publication learned about the preparation of the next, already sixth, military aid package for Ukraine. The preliminary version of this package also includes anti-aircraft systems - SAMP / T and Spada 2000.
Deliveries of SAMP / T air defense systems were proposed to be carried out together with France. The Italian army in this case should provide radar and some other means of the complex, and the French army will provide launchers and Aster 30 missiles. The two countries could thus collect one battery for transfer to Ukraine.
Command post
At that time, the details of the planned deliveries of air defense systems were not disclosed. From press publications, it became known that we are talking about only one SAMP / T battery with an indefinite amount of ammunition. The timing of the transfer of these products was not reported. Also, plans for the preparation of calculations were not disclosed.
Polite refusal
However, already on November 1, the publication Il Messaggero revealed new details of the current processes. From its sources in the military-political leadership of Italy, it learned that sending SAMP / T to Ukraine is impossible for several reasons at once. Moreover, these same problems can interfere with the provision of other assistance.
The fact is that in the Italian army there are still too few SAMP / T air defense systems. Accordingly, the removal of individual complexes from duty for shipment abroad threatens their own security. In addition, the upcoming package is already the sixth, and Italy, as it turned out, has not yet completed all deliveries for the fourth and fifth. According to Il Messaggero sources, it is necessary to fulfill the previous plans, and only then take up the preparation of new ones.
Finally, the aid project cannot yet pass through all instances and obtain the necessary approval. After the recent elections and reshuffles, all relevant parliamentary committees have not yet been formed. Until this process is completed, no aid package will be approved.
Over the next few days, Italian and foreign media discussed the possibility of delivering SMAP / T to Ukraine. There were even suggestions about the beginning of their transmission in an atmosphere of secrecy. Allegedly, in the near future, Italian-French air defense systems could appear on Ukrainian territory.
However, on November 10, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, in an interview for Il Messaggero, said that no new deliveries of equipment and weapons to the Kyiv regime were planned. Work on the sixth aid package has been halted, and for now the main task is to transfer the previously promised aid. However, the minister did not rule out the appearance of the next package, incl. including modern air defense systems.
Thus, in the end, the requests of the Kyiv regime were refused. Italy does not have the ability to provide him with the desired modern-model air defense systems. Apparently, France will not send such assistance either, because. faces the same difficulties and does not want to create threats to their own security.
Interspecific missile
History The SAMP / T air defense system dates back to the late eighties, when Italy and France signed an agreement on the joint development of advanced anti-aircraft guided missiles. In accordance with the document, a Eurosam joint venture was created, in which several French and Italian companies participated.
By the mid-nineties, Eurosam had developed the Aster 15 short-range missiles and the Aster 30 medium-range missiles. At that time, they were intended only for warships and were to be used as part of the SAAM air defense system. By the end of the decade, SAAM and Aster were tested, after which they began to be deployed on ships in Italy and France. Then came the first foreign orders.
By this time, the development of a land-based medium-range air defense system using the Aster 30 missile had begun. Such a project was designated SAMP / T (Sol-Air Moyenne-Portée / Terrestre - “Medium-range ground air defense system”). Work on it was completed at the turn of the XNUMXs and XNUMXs, after which mass production began.
Launcher in firing position
In the following years, Italy purchased only a few SAMP / T batteries for its ground forces, including 20 launchers. France acquired twice as many launchers and a different amount of other means, which made it possible to re-equip more units. So far, the only foreign customer is Singapore. It has already received at least four launchers and other assets, and deliveries are ongoing.
Technical features
The SAMP/T is a land-based medium-range anti-aircraft missile system in a mobile version. The complex includes a multifunctional radar, a command post, up to six launchers, missiles and support equipment. All the main components of the air defense system are built on automobile chassis, which ensures the transfer between positions. Combat duty begins after a short and simple deployment.
As part of the air defense system, the Thales ARABEL multifunctional three-coordinate radar with AFAR is used. Depending on the modification, it is capable of detecting and tracking a large number of air targets at ranges of at least 100-150 km. The ability to work on aircraft, helicopters, UAVs of various classes, aviation weapons and ballistic missiles is declared.
The battery command post is responsible for receiving and processing data from the radar and the subsequent development of fire missions for missiles. The possibility of working in a layered air defense system is envisaged; in this case, data on the air situation and targets may come from outside or be transmitted to other consumers.
The launcher is a lifting unit for mounting on a truck. It fits eight transport and launch containers with missiles. When deployed, TPKs rise vertically.
Aster 30 rocket
As part of the SAMP / T air defense system, the Aster 30 missile defense system is used. This is a two-stage solid-propellant bicaliber missile 4,9 m long and with a launch weight of 450 kg. The first version of such a missile had a range of 120 km. In the course of further upgrades, this parameter was increased to 150 km. The maximum flight speed is 1400 m / s.
Aster 30 is equipped with an active radar homing head and an inertial navigation system. The possibility of hitting various aerodynamic and ballistic targets, up to medium-range missiles, has been declared. SAM carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 15 kg with a proximity fuse.
Potential and its implementation
The SAMP / T complex is a modern and quite successful anti-aircraft system. It has fairly high performance characteristics and is able to solve the problem of intercepting various targets at considerable distances. During the modernization of the complex and its missiles, it was possible to ensure the defeat of even complex targets, up to medium-range ballistic missiles.
In addition, the complex complies with NATO standards and can interact with various command and control systems and receive data from different sources. This allows you to effectively use it in layered air defense.
In general, it is understandable why the Kyiv regime wants to get such anti-aircraft systems. However, it is clear that he will not be able to realize all the advantages of such equipment and organize with its help a full-fledged air defense of controlled areas. Obtaining such results, as always, is hampered by a number of characteristic factors.
First of all, it is the availability of equipment and possible volumes of deliveries. As it turned out, Italy is not going to give up its SAMP / T yet, so as not to pose a threat to its own security. How soon and in what quantity they will be able to allocate such equipment is unknown.
Even if Italy and/or France can provide a SAMP/T battery within a reasonable time frame, the benefit of such assistance will be limited. One battery includes up to six launchers and has a ready-to-use ammunition load of up to 48 missiles. Despite the significant range, such a unit will be able to cover only one area, and the Kyiv command will have to decide which areas will be left without modern imported air defense systems.
The SAM battery includes only a few tools, incl. critical. This means that almost any accurate strike on a radar or command post renders the entire complex incapable of combat - and turns it into an easy target for further attacks. At the same time, it is unlikely that it will be possible to replace the withdrawn funds and restore the operation of the air defense system.
Without help
Thus, with the supply of Italian-French SAMP / T air defense systems, an interesting situation takes place. The Kyiv regime wishes to receive such equipment, and foreign partners have considered the possibility of providing it. However, the Italian army decided that it could not share modern air defense systems. We can assume that the issue of transferring the SAMP / T air defense system is closed for an indefinite period.
It cannot be ruled out that in the foreseeable future the Italian or French side will nevertheless agree to supply their anti-aircraft systems. But in this case, new difficulties arise. For objective reasons, SAMP/T is unlikely to show all the expected features, which will negatively affect its reputation. It is likely that in the current situation, image issues play an important role. And the refusal to supply air defense systems to Ukraine may be connected precisely with Italy's unwillingness to spoil the commercial prospects of its products.
Information