SAMP/T radar upgrade takes its cue from Sea Fire
The Thales Ground Fire radar will replace the existing Arabel radar equipping the SAMP/T air defence system for the French Air and Space Force. (Photo: Thomas Withington)
An X-band radar from Thales with similarities to the Sea Fire system will equip the upgraded SAMP/T air defence system.
The French armed forces are performing an overarching upgrade of the Eurosam Surface-to-Air Missile Platform/Terrain (SAMP/T) ground-based air defence system, under the supervision of defence procurement agency DGA.
SAMP/T fires the MBDA ASTER-30 active radar homing SAM. A full SAMP/T system for the French Air and Space Force comprises up to six launch vehicles and a C2 vehicle. These are accompanied by an Arabel X-band (8.5-10.68GHz) ground-based air surveillance/fire control radar.
Arabel detects air targets and guides the missiles using a radio datalink. In the SAMP/T upgrade, Arabel is being replaced by the Thales X-band Ground Fire system on a one-for-one
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
You may also like
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Sean O’Neill, Senior Business Development Manager with Iris Technology, discusses the growing importance of tactical power management systems for modern military operations.
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Austin Farnham, President of Octane Wireless, discusses how direct feedback from special operations forces is helping shape the next generation of battlefield communications technology.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system]()
World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system
The Northrop Grumman Integrated Battle Command System is in service with Poland and the US Army with another 20 countries believed to have expressed an interest.
-
![Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials]()
Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials
The Thales DigitalCrew package, first unveiled at last year’s Defence IQ International Armoured Vehicles conference, is designed to merge imaging and apply a layer of decision-making and observation algorithms to support crew and other personnel.
-
![Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool]()
Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool
Nomad can provide militaries with real-time intelligence, saving critical time on the battlefield.
-
![AUSA 2025: Israel’s Asio Technologies to supply hundreds of improved Taurus tactical systems]()
AUSA 2025: Israel’s Asio Technologies to supply hundreds of improved Taurus tactical systems
Taurus operates alongside the Israel Defense Forces’ Orion system which supports mission management across tens of thousands of manoeuvring forces, from squad leaders to battalion commanders.
