The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), acting on behalf of France, awarded eurosam a contract on 30 April 2026, for the development of the ASTER/ VL MICA multi-layered version of the SAMPT/NG system. This contract prepared with the French DGA will involve, in addition to eurosam, its parent companies MBDA and Thales.

This development aims to give to the SAMP/T NG French variant a short-range surface-to-air capability with the MICA VL missile, complementing its medium to long-range air and ballistic missile defence capability with the ASTER missiles.

With this development, the medium ASTER B1 and long-range ASTER B1NT effectors, both with ballistic missile defence capabilities, and the short-range MICA VL and MICA NG VL effectors (in their IR and EM versions) will be integrated into a multi-layered system. This new operational capability will require an upgrade to the Next Generation Engagement Module (ME-NG) of the SAMP/T NG. The ME-NG will thus ensure coordinated fire with optimized use of launchers loaded with these effectors in an operational context where the number and diversity of aerial threats are increasingly significant.

Under the frame of this new contract, the SAMP/T NG sections planned in the current French 2024-2030 Military Programming Law will be delivered to the French Air and Space Force in this multi-layer ASTER/ VL MICA configuration.

This new SAMP/T NG version is designed to be scalable, with the aim to broaden its multi-layered capability by integrating also very short-range missile effectors (e.g., MISTRAL 3) and anti-drone systems. It will contribute to building a broader and fully integrated air and missile defence reinforcing the ability of SAMP/T NG to counter all types of threats in the decades to come.