The Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation has announced the completion of factory acceptance trials of the fourth Kronos radar for the Italian variant of the SAMP/T NG (new-generation) air and missile defense system.
The test took place at Leonardo’s Fusaro facility in Italy, assessing the sensor’s features and performance.
Ordered in 2021, the key trial marks an intermediate milestone for the SAMP/T NG program, which will be delivered to the Italian Armed Forces in the coming years.
A C-band multi-functional radar, the Kronos Grand Mobile High Power K6 is designed for air and missile surveillance and defense.
It can operate in both land and littoral environments, and has a detection and tracking range of over 250 kilometers (155 miles) and surveillance range of over 300 kilometers (186 miles).
The sensor employs its Active Electronically Scanned Array Antenna to optimize detection, tracking, threat classification, and missile guidance against multiple targets.
According to developer Leonardo, it “can perform simultaneous multiple target tracking with an update rate of up to 1 second for highly maneuvering targets.”
A total of 10 SAMP/T NG systems have been ordered by Italy to provide enhanced interception capability against threats such as hypersonic missiles.
A SAMP/T NG battery comprises up to six launchers with eight Aster missiles each, a multi-functional radar, and one engagement module.
Also ordered by France, the system’s French version features Thales Ground Fire 300 radar.
It has a reported range of over 150 kilometers (93 miles), and an improved capability to intercept hypersonic missiles.
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