Aster 30 missile tests successful

Aster 30 missile tests successful

14 June 2001

At the end of May the French procurement agency, Delegation Generale pour l'Armement (DGA) carried out a test firing of the Aster 30 missile to test its capability to operate in a hostile EW environment at its Test Centre in South West France.

The test used two airborne targets, each carrying a jammer. The missile was fired when the targets were 15 km away and the missile succesfully hit its selected target despite heavy jamming.

This was the fourth successful test in a series designed to confirm the Aster 30's ability to operate in a hostile environment. The SAMP/T will now begin a trials programme in Italy, which will start at the end of the year.

The Aster missile is being developed as part of a family of future surface to air (FFSA) systems, which includes the SAAM system installed on the French Aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the medium range SAMP/T.

The FFSA programme is a cooperative effort between France and Italy, managed by OCCAR and with the work being done by Eurosam (A'rospatiale Matra Missiles, Alenia Marconi Systems and Thales).

Aster will be deployed on the Horizon anti-aircraft frigates being built for the French and Italian Navies and the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers.