Turkey launches SAMP/T missile defense system talks

Turkey is in talks with Italy to acquire and co-produce European-made SAMP/T air and missile defense systems after recent missile threats linked to Iran heightened pressure on Ankara to strengthen its air defenses.

The discussions focus on the SAMP/T system produced by Eurosam, the French-Italian consortium behind one of Europe’s most advanced long-range air defense platforms. The talks were first reported by Turkish daily YeniSafak and later confirmed by people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg.

Ankara has pursued the SAMP/T for years as part of a broader effort to build a layered national missile shield, often described by Turkish officials as a “steel dome.” Earlier attempts to move forward were stalled after France objected to previous requests, despite a 2018 accord between Turkey and Eurosam covering co-production.

Turkish negotiators now believe France may be more receptive to the deal, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks remain private.

Neither Turkey’s Defense Ministry nor the Italian government publicly commented on the negotiations. France’s presidency referred questions to the defense ministry, which did not immediately respond.

The urgency around the talks has grown after NATO forces reportedly intercepted four missiles fired from Iran toward Turkey since the start of the war in the Middle East, the people said. Those incidents appear to have reinforced Ankara’s longstanding push to expand both missile defense coverage and domestic production capacity.

The SAMP/T, widely used by several NATO countries, is a ground-based air defense system designed to intercept aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missile threats. It uses the Aster interceptor family and is often regarded as Europe’s closest counterpart to the U.S.-made Patriot system. The system consists of radar units, command vehicles, and missile launchers capable of engaging incoming threats at long range. In a layered defense network, it serves as a higher-tier shield intended to defeat more advanced aerial threats before they reach critical infrastructure or military installations.

The talks with Italy also fit into Ankara’s broader industrial strategy. Turkey has long pressed NATO partners to agree to co-production arrangements that allow domestic firms to absorb technology and expand sovereign manufacturing capacity.

The issue also intersects with Turkey’s complicated defense relationship with Washington.

Relations with the United States deteriorated after Ankara purchased the Russian-made S-400 air defense system in 2019, a move that led to Turkey’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program. Washington has continued to press Turkey to abandon the Russian system, arguing that it is incompatible with NATO’s integrated air defense architecture.

A SAMP/T deal with Italy and, potentially, France could help Ankara move closer to NATO-standard missile defense integration while supporting its domestic industrial goals.

For Ankara, the talks with Italy appear to serve both immediate defense requirements and a longer-term industrial objective: building a national missile shield while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.