Rejecting the U.S. Patriot, Denmark chooses a European-made new generation air defense system

On the 21st local time, Thales Group in France announced that it has signed a contract with Denmark to deploy the SAMP/T NG missile defense system in Denmark. Delivery is expected to begin in 2028. This is the first export contract for the SAMP/T NG in Europe. The system’s full name is “Next-Generation Land-Based Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile System,” and it is a competitor to the well-known American “Patriot” missile defense system. The SAMP/T NG missile defense system carries Europe’s aspiration to reduce dependence on external defense. It was developed by the European SAM missile company, a joint venture between the European missile group and Thales, and is currently Europe’s only medium- to long-range missile defense system capable of simultaneously countering ballistic missiles, highly maneuverable targets, and saturation attacks. It is understood that six months ago, Denmark made a decision between the European solution and the U.S.-made “Patriot” system, choosing the former. Denmark’s choice of the SAMP/T NG over the U.S.-made “Patriot” missile defense system is of particular significance in the context of European strategic autonomy, especially against the backdrop of currently tense transatlantic relations. (CCTV News)