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PRESS RELEASE

Second Successful Qualification Firing For MBDA’S ASTER 30 SAMP-T SYSTEM
(Source MBDA - Issued Dec. 20, 2005 )

On 20th December 2005, the second qualification firing of the Franco-Italian Aster SAMP-T ground based air defence system took place at the French DGA’s (Délégation Général pour l’Armement) CELM (Centre d’Essai de Lancement des Missiles) test facility.

For this second qualification firing, all the system elements were used : the engagement module, the ARABEL radar, the vertical launcher and the Aster 30 munition.

The objective of this test firing was to prove the ability of the complete system to intercept a C-22 target carrying out evasive manœuvres. This aspect of the target and the test, contrasts with the scope of an earlier firing of the system carried out in July 2005

Flying at an altitude of 500 metres and at a speed of approximately 250 metres per second, the target simulated the threat presented by a manoeuvring combat aircraft.

The trial was a total success with the full range of test objectives achieved :
- Acquisition and tracking of the target by the ARABEL radar
- Target engagement by the fire control unit
- Launch of the Aster 30
- Updating of targets coordinates to the missile in flight
- In-flight target acquisition by the Aster 30 missile’s seeker
- Final interception of the target at an altitude of 500 metres and at a distance of 10 km from the launcher

As with the earlier firing, Aster 30 registered a direct hit on the target, confirming once again the extreme precision of the missile.

This latest success follows on from the succesful PAAMS system firings of 12th October and 1st June 2005 and from the first qualification firings of SAMP-T on 26th July 2005.

Jean-Paul Genest, MBDA’s Technical Director, said: “This successful trial marks an important step in the SAMP-T programme. MBDA has once again demonstrated the capabilities of the SAMP-T system which has set the European technology standard in the area of anti-air defence”.

Fabrizio Giulianini, Managing Director of MBDA Italy and MBDA’s Director of Multinational Surface to Air Programmes added: “The integrated Franco-Italian team has once again demonstrated its worth and I thank all those involved in making this very important achievement possible”.

This latest firing is part of the qualification programme for SAMP-T which will undergo operational evaluation by the armed forces of both France and Italy in the second half of 2006.

The next milestone in the programme will be a third qualification firing, currently foreseen for some time towards the end of the first half of 2006.

Notes to editors

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 € 3 billion, a forward order book of over €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-

		*Eurosam newsroom*

		PRESS RELEASE Second Successful Qualification Firing For MBDA’S ASTER 30 SAMP-T SYSTEM (Source MBDA - Issued Dec. 20, 2005 ) On 20th December 2005, the second qualification firing of the Franco-Italian Aster SAMP-T ground based air defence system took place at the French DGA’s (Délégation Général pour l’Armement) CELM (Centre d’Essai de Lancement des Missiles) test facility. For this second qualification firing, all the system elements were used : the engagement module, the ARABEL radar, the vertical launcher and the Aster 30 munition. The objective of this test firing was to prove the ability of the complete system to intercept a C-22 target carrying out evasive manœuvres. This aspect of the target and the test, contrasts with the scope of an earlier firing of the system carried out in July 2005 Flying at an altitude of 500 metres and at a speed of approximately 250 metres per second, the target simulated the threat presented by a manoeuvring combat aircraft. The trial was a total success with the full range of test objectives achieved : - Acquisition and tracking of the target by the ARABEL radar - Target engagement by the fire control unit - Launch of the Aster 30 - Updating of targets coordinates to the missile in flight - In-flight target acquisition by the Aster 30 missile’s seeker - Final interception of the target at an altitude of 500 metres and at a distance of 10 km from the launcher As with the earlier firing, Aster 30 registered a direct hit on the target, confirming once again the extreme precision of the missile. This latest success follows on from the succesful PAAMS system firings of 12th October and 1st June 2005 and from the first qualification firings of SAMP-T on 26th July 2005. Jean-Paul Genest, MBDA’s Technical Director, said: “This successful trial marks an important step in the SAMP-T programme. MBDA has once again demonstrated the capabilities of the SAMP-T system which has set the European technology standard in the area of anti-air defence”. Fabrizio Giulianini, Managing Director of MBDA Italy and MBDA’s Director of Multinational Surface to Air Programmes added: “The integrated Franco-Italian team has once again demonstrated its worth and I thank all those involved in making this very important achievement possible”. This latest firing is part of the qualification programme for SAMP-T which will undergo operational evaluation by the armed forces of both France and Italy in the second half of 2006. The next milestone in the programme will be a third qualification firing, currently foreseen for some time towards the end of the first half of 2006. Notes to editors 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 € 3 billion, a forward order book of over €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-