French President Emmanuel Macron has said that the SAMP/T air defence system has been deployed and operating in Kyiv, according to RAI.
"I am delighted to be able to announce to you, together with my Italian colleague Giorgia Meloni, that the Franco-Italian SAMP/T is now deployed and operational in Ukraine, where it protects key sites and lives," Macron said.
It is noted that SAMP/T MAMBA is Europe's first long-range anti-missile system. Its launchers are armed with eight Aster missiles with a range of about 100 km.
Macron also announced that Belgium will be admitted as an observer to the Future Air Combat System (SCAF), a comprehensive programme developed by France, Germany and Spain. The SCAF is expected to enter service by 2040, but has already experienced many delays.
In addition, Macron announced that France, Estonia, Hungary, Belgium and Cyprus will jointly purchase short-range Mistral surface-to-air missiles, which can hit targets at a distance of up to 6 km.