The French-Italian SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system transferred to Ukraine has already shot down a Russian Sukhoi aircraft.

According to a Suspilne correspondent, Yuriy Ihnat, Head of the Communications Department of the Air Force Command, announced this during a discussion at “Defense Talks: The Sky without GBU.”.

The officer did not specify in which area of the front and when exactly the Russian plane was shot down.

The French-Italian SAM has already shot down other enemy targets.

“SAMP/T shot down a Sushka. But also other targets. There is a confirmed aircraft,” Ihnat said.

Timeline of the transfer

In October 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyi publicly appealed to France and Italy to arm the Air Force of Ukraine with SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile systems.

Already in November, it was reported that these European countries had started negotiations on the possible transfer of a battery of these SAMs to Ukraine.

On January 28, 2023, it was reported that France and Italy were preparing to transfer an air defense system to Ukraine.

In early February 2023, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated:

“I believe that it (SAMP/T – ed.) will be operational within seven to eight weeks,” Tayani noted.

On February 1, 2023, the French company Thales received a contract to manufacture two GM200 radars for Ukraine.

On February 3, 2023, France and Italy decided to transfer the SAMP/T anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine. Subsequently, Ukraine’s future SAMP/T operators went on a training exercise to master the French-Italian air defense system.

A few months later, on June 19, 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the air and missile defense system had already been deployed and was operating in Ukraine.

SAMP/T

SAMP/T is a long-range anti-aircraft missile system developed by the European consortium EuroSAM. It includes MBDA Italy, MBDA France, and Thales. The system can destroy aerodynamic targets at a distance of up to 150 km at an altitude of up to 25 km. The system is also capable of shooting down ballistic missiles at a distance of up to 25 km and a similar altitude.

The SAM is based on the French Aster-30 solid-fuel anti-aircraft missile. The missile speed is 4.5M (1400 m\s). The weight of the warhead is 20 kg, the launch weight is 450 kg.

The SAM has a minimum reaction time and a high rate of fire (8 missiles can be launched in 10 seconds).

In addition to Ukraine, this anti-aircraft missile system is in service in Italy, France, and Singapore.