France to Deliver First Next-Generation SAMP/T Air Defense System to Ukraine in 2026

France will deliver the first SAMP/T NG air defense system to Ukraine in 2026.

The French Aid to Ukraine observer announced this on X.

“Thales has just confirmed that the SAMP/T NG system has been commissioned in France and Italy, with the first deliveries scheduled for 2026. This means that the first SAMP/T NG systems will also be delivered to Ukraine that same year,” he wrote on social media.

The observer’s report is based on Thales’ announcement about the successful completion of the first qualification test firings of the French version of the SAMP/T NG system in December 2025.

In the same announcement, the company confirmed that the first deliveries of the next-generation air defense system are planned for 2026.

Based on this announcement and a quote from French President Emmanuel Macron stating that the first SAMP/T NG systems will be deployed in Ukraine after development, the observer concluded that the first air defense system will be delivered to the Ukrainian Air Force next year.

“We agreed that this system [SAMP/T NG], after development, will be initially deployed in Ukraine and will operate in Ukraine,” Emmanuel Macron said earlier.

In total, Ukraine is set to receive eight SAMP/T NG air defense systems under the new bilateral agreement with France, signed in November. Each system includes six launchers, bringing the total to 48 for the Ukrainian Air Force.

After the signing, Macron emphasized that the bilateral defense agreement with Ukraine is designed for ten years and also covers the procurement, development, and production of drones, interceptors, and guided bombs.

The agreement includes deliveries planned for the next two years, as well as long-term joint projects.

The SAMP/T system currently serves as a key element of air defense in France and Italy.

In October, Thales announced the start of serial production of Ground Fire radars for the SAMP/T NG air defense system.