PARIS---On May 31, the French defense procurement agency's Centre d'Essais des Landes (CEL) test range successfully performed a new launch of the Aster 30 missile, which demonstrated the weapon's ability to operate in a high-density electronic counter-measures environment.
For this test firing, CEL used two target drones, each fitted with a jammer, flying in close formation. When the targets reached a range of 15 kilometers from the firing point, the missile was fired and closed on to its intended target, which it destroyed without being affected by the jammers.
This was the fourth successful firing in the CEL's program to develop the Aster 30 missile. It will allow the SAMP/T air-defense system to begin its qualification phase, due to begin in Italy by year-end.
The Aster missile is being developed as part of the future surface-to-air family (FSAF) project, which comprises:
-- the SAAM (surface-to-air anti-missile) system fitted to the French navy Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier ;
The FSAF program is a joint undertaking between France and Italy. It is managed by OCCAR, and the prime contractor is Eurosam, a joint venture company between Aerospatiale Matra Missiles, Alenia Marconi Systems and Thales.
The Aster missile has also been selected for the PAAMS (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) naval air-defense system being developed for the Horizon frigates being built for the French and Italian navies, and for the Type 45 destroyers for Britain's Royal Navy.
