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Eurosam newsroom

PRESS RELEASE

Test Firing Success for MBDA’s Aster 30 Missile

(Source MBDA - Issued Oct. 13, 2005 )

On 12th October 2005, the latest successful test firing of MBDA’s Aster 30 missile took place at the French DGA’s (Délégation Général pour l’Armement) Centre d’Essais des Landes (CEL) test range near Biscarosse on the South West coast of France.

The firing forms part of the PAAMS (Principle Anti-Air Missile System) qualification programme. PAAMS will provide the main air defence on the UK Royal Navy’s new Type 45 destroyers as well as on the new Horizon frigates ordered for the French and Italian navies.

This latest success follows on from other recent firing successes carried out earlier this year for the PAAMS programme on 1st June and for the SAMP-T programme on 26th July.

The test scenario replicated exactly the kind of aerial threat that Aster PAAMS has been designed to counter – an attack on an escort ship by a salvo of two missiles at close range at an altitude of 1,000 metres.

The objective of the test was to successfully intercept a pre-determined target, one of two Mirach 100-5 targets that had been launched. This would validate the Aster 30 missile’s ability to discriminate between targets and confirm that the missile’s seeker would not be confused by the presence of a second target in the vicinity.

Target interception was achieved at a range of 17.5 km from the Aster 30 launcher at an altitude of approximately 1,000 metres. All test objectives were fully met thus making the firing a total success.

Marwan Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of MBDA, said: “With this latest success MBDA has once again demonstrated its capacity to lead major multinational surface-to-air programmes. In the naval domain with the SAAM and PAAMS systems and on land with SAMP-T, the Aster missile family is Europe’s technology benchmark for anti-air defence”.

Fabrizio Giulianini, Managing Director of MBDA Italy and MBDA’s Director of Multinational Surface to Air Programmes added: “This latest success confirms the significant value and advantage of the integrated Franco-Italian team which was put in place at the onset of the Aster programme”.

BACKGROUND NOTES:

The Aster modular family of vertically launched missiles is being developed under the leadership of MBDA within the Franco-Italian FSAF (Future Surface-to-Air Family) programme. Aster missiles feature in three air defence systems:

SAMP/T: The land-based medium-range area defence system using the Aster 30 (120km range) missile for the French and Italian armies as well as the French air force. The Aster 30 missile system will offer high-level tactical and strategic mobility and thanks to its high rate of fire will be capable of countering saturating threats.

SAAM (Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile): A naval point defence system using the Aster 15 (30km range) missile for the French and Italian navies.

PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System): A naval air defence system utilising a mix of Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles to provide self defence for the host ship, local area defence of nearby vessels as well the wider defence of the fleet.

With an annual turnover exceeding EUR 3 billion, a forward order book of over EUR 13 billion and over 70 customers world wide, MBDA is a world leading, global missile systems company. MBDA currently has 45 missile system and countermeasure programmes in operational service and has proven its ability as prime contractor to head major multi-national projects.

MBDA is jointly owned by BAE Systems (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and FINMECCANICA (25%).

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		*Eurosam newsroom*

		PRESS RELEASE Test Firing Success for MBDA’s Aster 30 Missile (Source MBDA - Issued Oct. 13, 2005 ) On 12th October 2005, the latest successful test firing of MBDA’s Aster 30 missile took place at the French DGA’s (Délégation Général pour l’Armement) Centre d’Essais des Landes (CEL) test range near Biscarosse on the South West coast of France. The firing forms part of the PAAMS (Principle Anti-Air Missile System) qualification programme. PAAMS will provide the main air defence on the UK Royal Navy’s new Type 45 destroyers as well as on the new Horizon frigates ordered for the French and Italian navies. This latest success follows on from other recent firing successes carried out earlier this year for the PAAMS programme on 1st June and for the SAMP-T programme on 26th July. The test scenario replicated exactly the kind of aerial threat that Aster PAAMS has been designed to counter – an attack on an escort ship by a salvo of two missiles at close range at an altitude of 1,000 metres. The objective of the test was to successfully intercept a pre-determined target, one of two Mirach 100-5 targets that had been launched. This would validate the Aster 30 missile’s ability to discriminate between targets and confirm that the missile’s seeker would not be confused by the presence of a second target in the vicinity. Target interception was achieved at a range of 17.5 km from the Aster 30 launcher at an altitude of approximately 1,000 metres. All test objectives were fully met thus making the firing a total success. Marwan Lahoud, Chief Executive Officer of MBDA, said: “With this latest success MBDA has once again demonstrated its capacity to lead major multinational surface-to-air programmes. In the naval domain with the SAAM and PAAMS systems and on land with SAMP-T, the Aster missile family is Europe’s technology benchmark for anti-air defence”. Fabrizio Giulianini, Managing Director of MBDA Italy and MBDA’s Director of Multinational Surface to Air Programmes added: “This latest success confirms the significant value and advantage of the integrated Franco-Italian team which was put in place at the onset of the Aster programme”. BACKGROUND NOTES: The Aster modular family of vertically launched missiles is being developed under the leadership of MBDA within the Franco-Italian FSAF (Future Surface-to-Air Family) programme. Aster missiles feature in three air defence systems: SAMP/T: The land-based medium-range area defence system using the Aster 30 (120km range) missile for the French and Italian armies as well as the French air force. The Aster 30 missile system will offer high-level tactical and strategic mobility and thanks to its high rate of fire will be capable of countering saturating threats. SAAM (Surface-to-Air Anti-Missile): A naval point defence system using the Aster 15 (30km range) missile for the French and Italian navies. PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System): A naval air defence system utilising a mix of Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles to provide self defence for the host ship, local area defence of nearby vessels as well the wider defence of the fleet. With an annual turnover exceeding EUR 3 billion, a forward order book of over EUR 13 billion and over 70 customers world wide, MBDA is a world leading, global missile systems company. MBDA currently has 45 missile system and countermeasure programmes in operational service and has proven its ability as prime contractor to head major multi-national projects. MBDA is jointly owned by BAE Systems (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and FINMECCANICA (25%). -ends-