TSAMTO, July 6. Ankara expects to sign an agreement with Italy and France on the production of SAMP-T air defense systems in the near future, RIA Novosti reports, citing a statement by Turkish President Recep Erdogan.
Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara is conducting intensive negotiations on the production of SAMP-T air defense systems by joint efforts of Turkey, France and Italy. According to him, R. Erdogan discussed this topic with the President of France and the Prime Minister of Italy. M. Cavusoglu admitted the possibility that the production of systems will be established in Turkey.
"This is a very important topic of relations between Turkey, Italy and France. During the last NATO summit, we discussed this issue with President E. Macron. During a meeting with Italian Prime Minister M. Draghi (in Ankara on July 5), we again discussed the details of this issue. Our defense ministers also discussed this topic. We want to move on to the SAMP-T agreement signing phase as soon as possible. We want to sign the agreement because it is of great importance for our defense capability. We have full agreement with the Italian Prime Minister on this issue, there are no problems. Similarly, we have an agreement with E. Macron on this issue. I hope that we will be able to sign the agreement as soon as possible and move on," the Anadolu agency quoted Erdogan as saying.
TSAMTO Reference
The SAMP/T medium-range SAM (Sol-Air Moyenne Portee/Terrestre) was developed in the interests of the French and Italian Armed Forces within the framework of the FSAF European program (Future Surface-to–Air Family of missile systems - a promising family of surface-to-air missile systems).
As part of the French Armed Forces, the SAM received the national designation "Mamba".
It is a mobile ground-based air defense system using the Aster-30 Block developed by MBDA.1, the range of which exceeds 80 km. The missile is capable of hitting aerial targets at altitudes from 50 m to 25 km. Each complex (battery) consists of four vertical launchers, each of which is capable of launching at the targets of eight missiles. The SAM can simultaneously fire at up to 10 targets.
SAMP/T air defense system is designed to cover important infrastructure facilities, including nuclear power plants, air bases, places of deployment of troops from air threats of various types, including tactical ballistic missiles. The characteristics of the complex also allow it to be used to cover units of the French Armed Forces during operations abroad.
The French Defense Ministry has signed a contract for the purchase of 10 batteries of anti-aircraft missile systems (for the SV and Air Force). The agreement also included the delivery of Aster-30 Block-1 missiles. The Italian Ministry of Defense announced plans to purchase 5 battery kits. The delivery of fully combat–ready air defense systems to the French Armed Forces was completed in 2014, and missiles in 2016.
Qatar has shown interest in purchasing SAMP/T air defense systems. In January of this year, the Qatari Armed Forces received an updated proposal on the possible delivery of the SAMP/T medium-range anti-aircraft missile system produced by the Eurosam consortium.
