PARIS, Sept 15 (Reuters) - France's Thales and

its partners are talking to several European and non-European

countries about more potential deals after Denmark selected the

Franco-Italian SAMP/T missile defence system, a senior Thales

executive said.

"Air defence is clearly becoming a priority across Europe,

not only the eastern part," Herve Dammann, Executive

Vice-President for Land and Air Systems told reporters,

following the Danish decision to pick a European rival to the

U.S. Patriot.