Editing SAMPSON (section)

==History==
SAMPSON is derived from the Multifunction Electronically Scanned Adaptive Radar ('''MESAR''') programme. MESAR 1 development commenced in 1982 as a partnership between [[Plessey]], [[Roke Manor Research Limited|Roke Manor Research]], and the [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency]].<ref name="flighintmesar">{{cite news |first=Howard|last=Gethin|title=Early warning electronically scanned Radar promises anti-ballistic missile solutions |work=Flight International |publisher=Reed Business Information|date=1999-06-02}}</ref><ref name="bare_url">{{cite web |url=http://navy-matters.beedall.com/sampson.htm |title=SAMPSON Multi-Function Radar |access-date=2007-08-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819200935/http://navy-matters.beedall.com/sampson.htm |archive-date=2007-08-19 }}</ref> Plessey was acquired by Siemens in 1989 to become Siemens-Plessey, itself acquired by British Aerospace in 1998. British Aerospace became BAE Systems in November 1999. MESAR 1 trials occurred between 1989 and 1994.<ref name="flighintmesar"/> MESAR 2 development began in August 1995, of which SAMPSON is a derivative.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fallout from 'StarWars' failure could afflict UK |work=The Engineer|publisher=[[Centaur Communications]]|page=17|date=2000-06-21}}</ref>

The [[Royal Navy]] intended to deploy the SAMPSON multifunction radar (MFR) on its version of the Horizon-class frigate (also known as Common New Generation Frigate or CNGF), a collaboration with France and Italy to produce anti-air warfare warships. Following delays and complications, the UK withdrew and started its own Type 45 programme. The [[Type 45 destroyer]] uses the SAMPSON radar with the [[PAAMS]] missile system, which was also developed for the Horizon frigates (French and Italian ships are to be fitted with the [[EMPAR]] MFR). The SAMPSON Radar is made in Cowes, Isle of Wight.

In September 2013, Type 45 destroyer [[HMS Daring (D32)|HMS ''Daring'']] was positioned near missile launch sites at US Army Kwajalein Atoll to take part in a trial assessing SAMPSON's ability to detect and track ballistic missiles, a capability it was not originally intended to have. During the trial, the system successfully detected two simulated [[medium-range ballistic missile]]s. Director of the UK Missile Defence Centre, Simon Pavitt, said, "This work has raised the profile of the Ballistic Missile Defence potential [...] and will support an ongoing Missile Defence Centre programme to further explore key issues."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-23 |title=Sampson radar - UK pursues at-sea missile defence capabilities |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/analysis/featuresampson-radar-uk-pursues-at-sea-missile-defence-capabilities-4323886/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Naval Technology |language=en-US}}</ref>