In Sardinia, preparations are underway for war. Or weapons are being tested to prevent it. It depends on your point of view. On December 3rd, a launch was carried out at the Salto di Quirra joint testing range with the Sampt-T Ng, the next-generation missile system developed through collaboration between the Italian and French arms industries. A few days later, on the 15th, the French variant of the same weapon was tested at the DGA Missile Testing Range in Biscarrosse.

In the hours that followed, an official statement was released, describing the mission as "successfully accomplished." The launches "once again demonstrated the high level of performance of this long-range capability developed by Eurosam for the armed forces of both countries." And not only that: in September, the Ministry of Defense expressed "satisfaction with the Danish government's decision to equip itself with the SAMP/T NG medium-range air defense system," which will allow Copenhagen "to ensure more effective protection of its airspace and population in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats." The Russian threat is never mentioned. And in the background are the statements of Minister Guido Crosetto, who announced billions in investments for the shield, the "dome," which Italy will equip to defend itself from missile attacks. It already has a name: "Michelangelo Dome." A significant portion of it has been tested at Quirra.

The experimentation

The Samp/T launches Aster missiles. The same type as one of the two (the other was a lighter Stinger) that were lost in the Sarrabus Sea during a previous exercise in late May. In large numbers, but quite evocative, it has the capacity to intercept (read: shoot down) an aircraft at 100 kilometers away and a missile at 25. These targets are described as "challenging in terms of range, maneuverability, stealth, or speed." The recently tested system "has already been ordered to equip the French and Italian Air and Space Forces, as well as the Italian Army," a statement reads. "The first systems will be delivered to the French Air and Space Force and the Italian Army in early 2026 for operational evaluation." The press releases are celebratory: the Sardinian and French tests "represent important steps forward in the development of this new, cutting-edge European air defense asset."

Enrico Fresu

© Riproduzione riservata