On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the press service of the Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) announced that a ceremony was held at the Santa Barbara Barracks in Sabaudia (Lazio region, Province of Latina), the headquarters of the Air Defense Artillery Command (Comando Artiglieria Controaerei, COMACA), marking the handover of components of the first surface-to-air and missile defense systems: the medium-range Eurosam SAMP/T NG and the short-range MBDA Grifo.
The Grifo system launcher in the foreground and the SAMP/T NG system in the background / Photos: Esercito Italiano
The handover ceremony for the first firing units took place in the presence of Isabella Rauti, Undersecretary of State for Defense; Carmine Masiello, Chief of Staff of the Italian Army; Lorenzo Mariani, Chairman and CEO of MBDA Italia; Anne Diaz de Tuesta, Managing Director of the Eurosam consortium; as well as local civil authorities.
The systems delivered yesterday to Comando Artiglieria Controaerei (COMACA) meet current operational requirements for the protection of forces, critical areas and infrastructure, and the civilian population, in line with the renewal and strengthening path of ground-based air defense capabilities launched by the Italian Ministry of Defense in recent years.
Following the induction into service of the 35 mm Oerlikon Skynex air defense artillery systems produced by Rheinmetall AG, the first example of which was delivered to the Italian Army in December 2025, the air defense modernization program is continuing. The Armed Forces are thus taking another step in the modernization of their capabilities, introducing advanced technologies aimed at increasing effectiveness and improving soldier safety on the battlefield.
SAMP/T NG
The Italian Ministry of Defense has ordered a total of 10 batteries of the next-generation SAMP/T NG air and missile defense system (Système sol-Air de Moyenne Portée Terrestre de Nouvelle Génération) from the Eurosam consortium (comprising MBDA and Thales), for both the Italian Army and the Aeronautica Militare. The SAMP/T NG program was launched jointly with France on March 19, 2021, with France ordering eight batteries. Denmark will be another independent user of the system. In the case of Italy and France, the new systems will replace the currently fielded SAMP/T Mamba.
SAMP/T NG Launcher
The SAMP/T NG system comprises launchers for Aster 30 B1 NT (Block 1 Nouvelle Technologie) interceptor missiles, featuring a new guidance package and fire control computer, as well as the ME-NG (New Generation Engagement Module) command-and-control module, based on an improved open software and communications architecture. The system also includes Thales GroundFire 300 (GF300) multifunction radars equipped with AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) antennas.
The missiles are launched from a new mobile launcher fitted with next-generation electronic equipment. Ultimately, a fully configured battery will field 48 ready-to-fire missiles—six launchers, each carrying eight missiles.
The GF300 radar, built using gallium nitride (GaN) technology and featuring a rotating S-band antenna, is capable of detecting aerodynamic targets over 360 degrees in azimuth and 90 degrees in elevation. The radar’s maximum instrumented range is 400 km.
The SAMP/T NG system will be capable of intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) as well as emerging battlefield threats such as hypersonic missiles. By comparison, the currently fielded SAMP/T system, equipped with the Arabel X-band radar and the Aster 30 missile, can intercept only short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs). This means that detection and interception capabilities against these threats will increase threefold. The system will also be able to engage other aerodynamic targets, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Grifo
Grifo is a member of the EMADS (Enhanced Modular Air Defence Solutions) family of air defense systems developed by the European consortium MBDA, using the extended-range CAMM-ER (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile – Extended Range) surface-to-air missiles developed by the Italian branch, MBDA Italia.
Grifo launcher
In 2022, six Grifo firing units were ordered together with ammunition for 456.3 million EUR, along with similar MAADS (Medium Advanced Air Defence System) firing units for the Air Force. The Army firing units are equipped with the PCMI module, which includes an MBDA command-and-control system, integrated with the X-TAR3D radar supplied by Rheinmetall Air Defence Italy, and an IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) system provided by the Leonardo group. The contract also includes an option for three additional firing units and additional missiles worth 106.3 million EUR.
The Italian Army will employ Grifo for air defense, extending the engagement envelope of its existing short-range air defense (SHORAD) systems. The CAMM-ER missile is part of the broader CAMM missile family, which uses vertical launch to provide 360-degree all-around coverage.
CAMM-ER is equipped with a state-of-the-art active radar seeker and a new motor designed by Avio, providing increased range compared to the baseline CAMM variant. The missile also features a soft vertical launch (cold launch) system.
#Esercito. Nuovi sistemi di difesa controaerea. Così il Capo di SM dell’#EsercitoItaliano, Gen. C.A. Carmine #Masiello, presso il Comando #Artiglieria Controaerei di #Sabaudia: “La consegna dei sistemi di difesa controaerei SAMP-T NG e GRIFO rappresenta un significativo salto in… pic.twitter.com/V5rAKBvAcz
— Esercito Italiano (@Esercito) January 22, 2026